From the United Kingdom to Australia, China, and Brazil, each country is exploring new ways of making the internet safer.

Here are four countries and the restrictions on internet access:

UK’s proof of age

Starting July 2025, the UK implemented a cybersecurity law that required children to prove their age to access the most harmful material on social media and adult websites.

Platforms that host content such as pornography, self-harm, or eating disorder promotion will be legally required to introduce secure age-verification systems, including facial scans, photo ID matching, or credit card checks.

Failure to comply could cost companies up to 10% of their global annual revenue or £18 million, whichever is higher. “This is one of the boldest steps anywhere in the world to reclaim the digital space for young people,” said Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. He described the policy as a response to the mental health crisis among children exposed to “toxic algorithms” and harmful online material.

Australia’s ban of under-16s from social media

Under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, passed last November, anyone under 16 will soon be banned from creating accounts on major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Reddit, and Kick.

The policy decision is the first of its kind anywhere in the world and is designed to shield minors from addictive and harmful content, cyberbullying, and predatory behaviour. Communications Minister Anika Wells admitted the policy is imperfect but insisted it was necessary: “There is no perfect solution to keeping young Australians safe online. But the social media minimum age laws will make a meaningful difference.” Platforms will be legally required to enforce the ban using age-verification technology.

China’s only verified influencers regulation

In East Asia, China’s Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) now requires social media influencers to prove their professional credentials before posting about sensitive topics such as law, medicine, finance, or education. Under the new policy, creators must show a degree, license, or certification to speak on these subjects. Platforms like Douyin (China’s TikTok), Weibo, and Bilibili are required to verify credentials and flag posts containing AI-generated material or research references.

Persons who misrepresent qualifications could lose monetisation rights, face temporary bans, or be fined. The CAC says the move aims to curb misinformation and promote a “cleaner cyberspace,” part of President Xi Jinping’s wider campaign to ensure online content is “factual, educational, and socially responsible.”

Brazil’s cyber responsibility

A landmark Supreme Court ruling in June 2025 declared that social media companies must act immediately to remove hate speech and criminal content once they become aware of it.

Previously, companies could only be penalised if they failed to remove content after a court order. Now, platforms are directly responsible for what circulates on their networks.

“We preserve freedom of expression as much as possible,” wrote Supreme Court President Justice Luis Roberto Barroso, “without allowing the world to fall into an abyss of incivility,” he added. The ruling also urged Congress to revise Article 19 of the country’s main internet law, the Marco Civil da Internet, to strengthen protections against disinformation and online violence.

The map above visualises how different countries approach the issue: some permit active voluntary euthanasia, others allow only passive euthanasia, many prohibit all forms, and several simply have no clear regulation.

According to data compiled by World Population Review, active voluntary euthanasia is legal in a handful of countries, including Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, and all six Australian states.

In other jurisdictions, only passive euthanasia is permitted (for example, withdrawal of life-support) or the practice remains entirely illegal.

Recent developments bring this issue into sharper focus. For instance, on October 16, 2025, Uruguay became the first major Latin-American country to pass legislation allowing active euthanasia for adults suffering from incurable and irreversible illness. At the same time, in Europe, the draft bill in France to legalise assisted dying is gaining traction, raising fresh discussions about end-of-life rights.

As populations age and medical technology advances, discussions around death with dignity, patient autonomy and the role of health-care professionals are intensifying. Countries that once prohibited euthanasia are reconsidering, and societies are grappling with how to balance compassion, safeguards and ethical principles.

Peru’s new president, José Jerí, has begun setting out the key guidelines for his first ministerial cabinet. The administration’s early focus is expected to center on stabilizing the political climate, advancing institutional reforms, and rebuilding public trust after years of turbulence. Political observers say the early policy framework will be crucial in shaping the administration’s credibility and the tone of governance going forward.

Electoral authorities meet with President Jerí at the Government Palace

In a show of cooperation between branches of government, the heads of JNE (National Jury of Elections), ONPE (National Office of Electoral Processes), and Reniec (National Registry of Identification and Civil Status) met with President Jerí at the Government Palace. The meeting focused on preparations for the 2026 elections, emphasizing coordination, transparency, and maintaining electoral integrity amid a rapidly changing political environment.

Analysts debate continuity in Peru’s new political era

Columnist Eliana Carlín has described the current administration as one that reflects “parliamentary continuity” despite promises of reform. In her piece, Continuismo parlamentario: la era Jerí, Carlín argues that although Jerí presents himself as a reformist, the structural composition of Congress and lingering political alliances may limit his capacity for real change. Her analysis highlights ongoing skepticism about whether the new government represents a true shift in Peru’s political trajectory.

Jerí’s first week in office marked by intense political activity

Local media have described the president’s initial  eight days in office as “agitated” and “high-stakes.” During this period, Jerí has held numerous meetings with ministers, party leaders, and civil society groups while responding to early policy and political challenges. His fast-paced start underscores both the urgency to deliver results and the pressures of managing competing priorities in a politically divided landscape.

Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez to seek confidence vote from Congress

Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez announced he will appear before Congress on October 22 to request a vote of confidence, a pivotal test for the administration’s legislative support. The confidence motion will determine the government’s ability to advance its proposed agenda, and analysts say it could set the tone for executive-legislative relations over the next year. The outcome will reveal how much political capital Jerí’s new team holds just weeks into its tenure.

According to Middle East Eye , the bill would enable Israeli courts to impose capital punishment on Palestinians convicted of murder, especially when the motive is deemed “nationalistic” or “ideological.”

However, it would not apply to Israeli citizens, including settlers, who kill Palestinians under similar circumstances. The proposal, championed by Limor Son Har-Melech of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party and backed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has ignited fierce debate about discrimination, legality, and timing amid ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Legal experts and government officials have already raised red flags. The committee’s legal adviser reportedly warned that the vote may be invalid because it was held during the Knesset’s recess and without consultation with key security bodies.

Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coordinator for hostages, cautioned that pressing ahead with the bill could endanger Israeli captives still held in Gaza.

Opposition lawmakers described the measure as “ an act of unprecedented savagery ,” arguing it risks institutionalising a two-tier justice system, one that applies capital punishment only to Palestinians.

Israel formally abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1954. Since then, it has been reserved only for extreme cases such as genocide or treason, with the country’s sole execution being that of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.

Although several attempts have been made in recent decades to revive capital punishment for terrorism, none have become law.

Critics say the plan incentivises lethal force in a state already notorious for violent policing. In 2024 alone, 703 people were killed in police operations in Rio de Janeiro, nearly two deaths every day, according to official data from the state’s Public Security Institute .

“This stimulates violence and turns death into public policy,” warned federal deputy Henrique Vieira, who opposed the measure. Rights groups echoed the concern, with Djeff Amadeus of the Black Coalition for Rights stating publicly that the policy could trigger a “widespread massacre perpetrated by police officers who will do everything possible to earn more money.”

Brazil’s security forces are among the deadliest in the world. According to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch , police in Brazil kill thousands annually, disproportionately targeting young Black men in impoverished neighbourhoods. A similar bonus system, known as the “Wild West Bonus,” operated in Rio from 1995 to 1998 before being scrapped after a spike in killings.

Supporters argue the policy will strengthen the fight against heavily armed drug gangs that dominate Rio’s favelas. But opponents warn it risks worsening the cycle of violence in a city where confrontations between security forces and criminal groups already endanger civilians.

The legislation also underscores Brazil’s broader political divide on security. Governor Castro and Bolsonaro-aligned lawmakers have promoted aggressive policing as a deterrent to organised crime, while critics insist such policies normalise extrajudicial killings and erode human rights protections.

Amadeus cautioned that the measure could deepen mistrust in public institutions while further entrenching systemic racial and social inequalities in the country’s justice system.

Disclaimer: The image for the article was AI-generated

In a significant constitutional move, Tonga’s King has asserted control over foreign policy, sidelining parliamentary influence. The decision has sparked intense debate over the monarchy’s role in diplomacy and the balance of power between elected officials and the crown.

General election campaign underway

Tonga’s Legislative Assembly has closed its latest session to prepare for the November General Election. Before adjourning, lawmakers passed several key bills, including the Whistleblower Protection Bill and amendments to marriage laws.

PTOA challenges Diplomatic Services Act

The opposition PTOA party has petitioned the King to withhold assent on the Diplomatic Services Act, arguing it lacks public consultation. The Act would centralise foreign affairs under the monarchy, raising concerns about democratic accountability.

Parliament modernises civil registration

In a controversial move, parliament passed a bill raising the legal marriage age to 18 and explicitly prohibiting same-sex marriage. The bill also introduces a digital identification system, modernising Tonga’s civil registry.

Whistleblower protection enacted

The Whistleblower Protection Bill 2025 was passed unanimously, creating new safeguards for individuals who expose misconduct by public officials, a major step toward greater transparency.