Prosecutors allege a Telegram network used coded terms like 'cars' for women and 'driving' for rape to discuss sexual assaults and drugging methods. The 'German driving school for experts' groups, involving mainly Chinese men targeting Chinese women, have led to convictions.
A survey by the Hong Kong Christian Service found that Gen Z in Hong Kong often underestimate social media's negative mental health effects. Frequent users reported higher loneliness scores than non-users, with a notable percentage of active users potentially experiencing severe social isolation.
Labor's proposed gambling advertising restrictions are being criticized by the Greens, Coalition, and independents as insufficient. Calls are mounting for a parliamentary inquiry and tougher measures, including a comprehensive ban on ads across all platforms within three years.
Labor MP Mike Freelander stated that the federal government's gambling advertising restrictions are only a preliminary measure, with more action needed. The Greens, Coalition, and an independent senator are also pushing for stronger reforms, including a ban on ads during live sports and a potential opt-in system for online gambling ads.
Google is shutting down the Tenor API on June 30th, forcing platforms like X, Discord, and WhatsApp to find alternative GIF picker services. While Tenor's website remains live, API integrations will cease, potentially impacting user access to saved GIFs.
Dettol's advertisement in China, intended to criticize "toxic men," was widely condemned on social media as offensive to women. The ad, which featured a man comparing his girlfriend to a "secondhand service" and seeking a "clean and untouched" wife, was withdrawn after backlash and calls for a boycott.
A security researcher, BobDaHacker, claims to have accessed internal FIFA platforms, including broadcast controls for World Cup games, due to a backend API flaw. The issue was reportedly fixed hours after being reported.
Wes Streeting urges Keir Starmer to take swift action against X and other platforms for inciting violence during riots. He suggests platforms should fund rebuilding costs and face criminal charges for promoting dangerous content, contrasting this with a slower response to AI-generated harmful content.
UK media regulator Ofcom has warned online service providers about the increased risk of their platforms being used to incite hatred and provoke violence, following viral posts related to recent civil unrest in Belfast.
A 30-year-old spiritual guru, Abhishek Mishra, alias Adikarta Narayan Das, has been arrested in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly luring and sexually exploiting young women. He used social media to attract followers and performed fake religious rituals, including 'Gandharva marriages', to establish physical relationships. A nursing student filed a complaint after being allegedly drugged and harassed.
A Chinese PhD dropout, Geng Hongwei, has become a viral influencer exposing academic misconduct. With over two million followers, he targets ethical malpractice in scientific research, recently questioning data in a paper published in Nature.
A 20-year-old poster designer is suing Shopify in Australia, alleging the e-commerce giant hosted "ghost stores" that copied his work. Ryan Billington claims Shopify ignored his copyright infringement notices before he filed a lawsuit in Brisbane.
Christopher David Louis, 38, faces 34 charges including child sexual abuse and exploitation after an investigation into live sex shows in the Philippines. He was arrested in January 2025 and is on bail.
Hong Kong's MPFA is increasing efforts to detect fake medical certificates used for early MPF withdrawals after two medical groups reported suspected fraud to police. The authority is collaborating with medical bodies to deter such fabrications.
A popular YouTuber's lavish lifestyle, including a Dubai cruise wedding, has drawn the Enforcement Directorate's attention. Investigators allege his empire was built on illegal betting promotions and money laundering. The case highlights the blurred lines between fantasy sports and betting, and the regulatory gaps exploited by online platforms.
700 riders will be in initial testing pool for weekly raceTesting is part of wider programme of integrity measuresFirst came the boom in virtual cycling, with thousands of people from across the globe competing against each other. Then came cash prizes. Now one major online platform has taken the next logical step by launching anti-doping testing for e-racers.MyWhoosh, which hosts the UCI Esports World Championships, has told the Guardian that the top riders in its weekly Sunday Race Club competition will now face random drug tests after they compete. Continue reading...
VTuber Filian has vanished from all online platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok, on May 1, 2026. This sudden content wipe, following a five-month absence, has sparked fan speculation about a potential rebranding, hiatus, or even a connection to past controversies regarding model rights. With no official statement, her devoted fanbase, known as 'Snackers,' awaits an explanation.
Several online platforms continue selling e-cigarette products to Hong Kong despite a ban on the import, sale and public use of alternative tobacco products. Websites using Malaysian and UK country codes advertise delivery within two days, with disclaimers shifting legal responsibility to buyers. Authorities plan to intensify monitoring and enforcement.
Sales of vaping products persist on some online platforms delivering to Hong Kong despite a ban on the import, sale and public use of alternative tobacco products, prompting authorities to step up monitoring and enforcement. The South China Morning Post on Friday found several online platforms selling e-cigarette products, with some websites displaying contact details using country codes from Malaysia and the United Kingdom. One platform advertised delivery and after-sales service in Hong Kong,...
Vaping products continue to be sold through online platforms delivering to Hong Kong despite a ban on the import, sale and public use of alternative tobacco products. The South China Morning Post found several online platforms selling e-cigarettes, with some using contact details from Malaysia and the UK. One platform advertised delivery within two days and carried disclaimers shifting legal responsibility to buyers.
The Hong Kong government has paused the roll-out of basketball betting via the Hong Kong Jockey Club after winning legislative backing. Meanwhile, US prediction markets during the 2024 presidential race handled billions in contracts. Critics raise concerns about markets allowing speculation on real-world conflicts including Gaza ceasefire outcomes and potential US military deployment to Iran, turning trajectories of conflicts with human consequences into instruments for financial gain.
China has issued a 12-point plan to strengthen protections for gig economy workers, addressing wage payments, social security, extreme weather protections and algorithm transparency. The State Council and Communist Party's Central Committee target standardized labor practices across the platform economy by 2027, as an economic slowdown drives millions into informal jobs.
