• A British startup SafeToNet is developing ‘live-threat detection’ software powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify harmful material as it’s shared or filmed in real-time
• It could be used on children’s phones to prevent them from sending or receiving inappropriate sexual or violent images 
• 29% of child sexual abuse content acted on by the Internet Watch Foundation last year was ‘self -generated’ 
• In November, 2,000 families will start testing the software which is expected to be ready for release by mid-2021

• A Councillor, who will lose his seat   has received an extended prison sentence of six years at Leeds Crown Court 
• The 50-year-old was arrested last year after he sent explicit photographs and text messages to an undercover officer posing as the mother of a three-year-old girl describing his wish to have sex with the child
• Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, said the defendant became involved with a group on the Kik messaging site which discussed sexual abuse – he will be placed on the sex offenders register for life 
• The NSPCC described him as a “serious danger to children” and encouraged anyone with concerns about a child’s wellbeing to seek support

• Police have launched an investigation into the conduct of the vice-principal of the prestigious Scottish Ballet West school 
• The 38-year-old,  teacher and vice-principal, resigned last week following multiple accounts of inappropriate behaviour dating back more than a decade 
• An ITV News investigation reportedly heard from around 60 former pupils, parents and staff who all raised concerns about his conduct
• He has been accused of sexual assault and grooming 
• A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police have now received a number of reports which will be thoroughly investigated”
• If you have concerns about a child contact the NSPCC here

• TikTok’s parent company ByteDance has said that it is preparing to launch legal proceedings against the Trump administration for ‘failure to follow due process’
• A representative of Bytedance has said, “What we encountered… was a lack of due process as the Administration paid no attention to facts and tried to insert itself into negotiations between private businesses.”
• TikTok has been subject to an executive order by the Trump administration forcing it to find a new US-based owner or risk being banned nationally 
• Oracle, Microsoft and Twitter have all shown interest in acquiring the platform

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