UK Announces Under-16 Social Media Ban to Protect Child Wellbeing, Following Australia's 2025 Model

EU Proposes KIDS Act with Tiered Social Media Ban for Under 13 and Limits Until 15

EU proposes landmark KIDS Act banning social media for under-13s and limiting access for 13-15 year olds to supervised mini accounts with 1 hour daily limit. Fines up to 6% of annual turnover for non-compliance. This global precedent may influence India's child safety regulations and is relevant for GS2 (governance) and GS3 (cyber security).

Meta Trial: $567 Mn Penalty for Child Addiction, 29-State Probe on Social Media Design

A US trial against Meta over addictive social media design for children could reshape Big Tech accountability. With penalties of $567 million and a $6 million jury verdict, this case highlights the growing scrutiny of platform design and its impact on youth mental health, a key issue for GS2 (Social Justice) and GS3 (Technology).

Meta Pays $17.1 Bn Settlement Over Child Addiction; India Weighs Age-Based Social Media Curbs

Meta's $17.1 billion settlement with US states over child addiction on Instagram/Facebook provides a blueprint for India's proposed social media restrictions for minors. India is considering age-based curbs, daily limits, and parental consent laws, making this a key policy development for exam focus on digital governance and child protection.

India Bars Sheikh Hasina from Political Activities; Extradition Request Under Review

India has informed a Parliamentary panel that former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina cannot conduct political activities from Indian soil. Dhaka has sent an extradition request, which India is legally examining, while also urging early renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty and normalization of visa services for Bangladeshi nationals.

India-Bangladesh Extradition Treaty 2013: Political Offence Exception Under Article 6 Blocks Hasina Handover

Bangladesh has formally sought the extradition of former PM Sheikh Hasina from India under the 2013 bilateral extradition treaty. However, Article 6 (Political Offence Exception) and Article 8 (Good Faith Clause) provide India strong legal grounds to refuse, especially given the disputed ICT verdict. This case tests the treaty's resilience amid strained bilateral ties.

Google, Meta Agree to Report Child Abuse Material Directly to Indian Authorities; Break from NCMEC Practice

Google and Meta have agreed to report child sexual abuse material (CSAM) directly to Indian authorities, bypassing the US-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). This follows Indian government pressure citing delays in the existing global routing system, which received over 21.3 million reports in 2025. The move signals a shift towards data sovereignty and faster law enforcement action in child protection.

Jaishankar at 81st UNGA: Global South Front Row in Crises but Back Row in Decision-Making

EAM Jaishankar highlighted that the Global South faces the brunt of global crises but is excluded from decision-making structures. He called for reformed multilateralism, especially UNSC expansion, at the High-Level Meeting on the sidelines of the 81st UNGA.

France, UK Back Voluntary UNSC Veto Restraint as 128 States Endorse 2015 Initiative

France and the UK have backed voluntary regulation of the UNSC veto in mass atrocity situations, reviving the 2015 French-Mexican initiative now backed by 128 states. For aspirants, this is a high-yield IR topic linking UNSC reform, P5 veto politics, multilateralism, and India's push for global governance change — important for Prelims factual questions and Mains analytical answers.