Latest news and stories about digital safety in Portugal for expats and residents.
The PSD will submit a bill proposing age verification at social media account creation to enforce a ban on under-13s and restrict access for under-16s. The measure, described as sensible and largely inevitable in an editorial, aims to protect children and reduce pressures such as the pursuit of likes, though it raises practical enforcement and privacy concerns about verification methods.
The new report from the National Cybersecurity Centre shows that the country still has a long way to go in digital protection, despite the increased awareness of threats.
A report denounces that two of the world's leading tech giants approve, distribute, and profit significantly from applications that create sexualised images using AI.
Google released its 2025 Ads Safety Report, highlighting that the integration of the Gemini AI model allowed the company to block or remove over 8.3 billion ads last year. The report notes a 99% proactive detection rate for policy-violating ads and details plans to expand this real-time protection to all advertising formats by 2026. Additionally, Google confirmed it has ceased serving political ads across the European Union since October 2025 to mitigate misinformation risks.
Brussels has created a platform for internet users to verify their age digitally. The Commission states it is secure and will allow, for example, the protection of children from illegal content and contact with sexual predators.
Von der Leyen announces a European application ready to protect children on social media. “This application gives parents, teachers and caregivers a powerful tool to protect children,” guarantees the Commission.
This is a new mobile application developed by Brussels to confirm the minimum age for accessing social media, which protects children and adolescents from inappropriate content, operates in a secure, simple, and anonymous manner, and aims to enforce age-related rules without exposing personal data.
The goal is to protect children and adolescents from inappropriate content.
Protecting teenagers in the digital world is not about keeping them away from technology, but ensuring they enter it at the right time, with the right tools and proper guidance.
The protocol provides for the implementation of media literacy promotion campaigns.
Portugal may have already been the target of a Russian cyber-espionage operation without even knowing it. The SIS alert confirms a global offensive by the GRU to access sensitive information, while experts interviewed by CNN Portugal point to structural weaknesses in the country, ranging from the State's lack of response capacity to the vulnerability of companies and citizens living in an increasingly sophisticated 'digital Wild West'.
New regulations mean digital platforms are no longer permitted to voluntarily scan for and detect child sexual abuse material.
An investigation by Check Point Research detected a flaw in ChatGPT that allowed for the invisible theft of confidential files and data. The issue has already been fixed by OpenAI.
The mechanism represents a particular danger to young people who turn to AI for many of life's questions while their brains and social norms are still developing.
PornHub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos face the threat of heavy fines for violating EU regulations by allowing minors to access their services.
Cette enquête intervient alors que les effets et la responsabilité des plateformes numériques à l’égard des enfants sont de plus en plus scrutés.
The video uses the image of the former banker and simulates a news report from CNN.
Platforms will no longer have a legal basis to scan private conversations. Discussions regarding the new European regulation are expected to continue for a long time.
The measure is part of the European Parliament's position regarding negotiations on simplifying rules related to AI.
The European Commission advocates for a common minimum age for social media access and is preparing a verification application to strengthen the protection of children in the digital space.
The European Commission advocates for a common position within the European Union (EU) regarding the minimum age for social media to ensure uniform protection for children and prevent differences between member states from creating inequalities in the digital market.
Investigation comes amid growing scrutiny of the impact and liability of technology platforms towards kids.
A jury voted in favour of 2.5 million euros in compensation for a young user due to mental health issues related to the use of Meta and YouTube platforms. The companies reject the accusations.
OpenAI is preparing to introduce an 'adult mode' to ChatGPT, allowing for erotic conversations. This move has sparked internal backlash, with safety experts warning that the AI could become a 'sexy suicide coach' by fostering emotional dependency and failing to adequately protect minors, leading the company to delay the rollout.
Security lapses in operations are 'freebies' for adversaries.
European Union law prevents digital platforms from tracking paedophilic content due to privacy concerns.
Child protection groups claim that encryption hinders police efforts to track sexual abuse material. The platform states the decision is due to low adoption of the feature.
A spokesperson for the EU Council stated that, despite intentions to limit the exemption to a law regarding child sexual abuse material, member states decided that doing so would render it “ineffective”.
A report indicates that, of the approximately 43,000 pieces of content related to disinformation analyzed in 2025, 88% passed through the social network X.
The social network X is the main channel used for disinformation activities against the European Union and politicians are the primary target, according to a report released today by the European diplomatic service.
