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Tag: Safety

  • FedEx Smooths APAC Business Compliance with New US Product Safety E-file Requirements

    FedEx Smooths APAC Business Compliance with New US Product Safety E-file Requirements

    FedEx Corporation, a major global express transportation company, is intensifying its support for businesses in the Asia Pacific (APAC) as they gear up for the forthcoming compulsory U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) e-filing requirements, which are scheduled to become effective on July 8, 2026.

    The incoming requirement stipulates that all U.S. importers of CPSC-regulated products must e-file the necessary data elements for clearance when the goods enter the United States. This is designed to enhance safety supervision and improve compliance transparency. U.S. importers of CPSC-regulated products are required to include the complete CPSC PGA message set for each product imported. To make the process more efficient, importers have the option to pre-file product information in CPSC’s Product Registry, which allows them to send a condensed CPSC message set. This signifies a noteworthy change for APAC exporters, as this product information will now be made available before shipment.

    Awareness Versus Readiness

    While overall awareness of the mandatory CPSC e-filing is on the rise, operational readiness remains limited. Almost two-thirds (64%) of APAC businesses exporting consumer products to the U.S. are not yet prepared, with 28% understanding the requirements but yet to act, and 18% anticipating significant disruptions to U.S.-bound shipments. Only 15% of businesses are currently fully operational. Those businesses that have not yet addressed product safety data requirements, electronic documentation standards, and certificate referencing may face clearance delays, penalties, or denial of entry at U.S. borders.

    Businesses need clarity on identifying products within the CPSC scope which is the primary need (32%), followed by digital tools for pre-validating data (23%) and simplified guidance on scope, registration, and documentation (19%). In preparation for the new requirements, businesses are looking for solutions that minimize clearance delays and integrate compliance into their operations.

    The Role of FedEx

    Salil Chari, President, Asia Pacific, FedEx, noted that changes of this scale can introduce complexity for businesses operating across borders. His focus is on making compliance effortless for customers, so they can continue moving goods seamlessly while confidently meeting new standards.

    FedEx is assisting customers in navigating this transition more confidently through integrated digital solutions, regulatory guidance, and operational expertise. By simplifying compliance processes and integrating requirements into existing shipping workflows, FedEx aims to reduce disruptions while supporting timely, accurate submissions.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the new requirement set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)?
    The new requirement mandates all U.S. importers of CPSC-regulated products to e-file the needed data elements for clearance at the time of entry into the United States.

    What are the top needs of APAC businesses in relation to these new requirements?
    The primary need is clarity on identifying products within the CPSC scope, followed by digital tools for pre-validating data and simplified guidance on scope, registration, and documentation.

    What is FedEx doing to help businesses navigate these changes?
    FedEx is enabling customers to manage this transition more confidently through integrated digital solutions, regulatory guidance, and operational expertise.

  • China Cracks Down on Walmart’s Sams Club Over Food Safety Concerns

    China Cracks Down on Walmart’s Sams Club Over Food Safety Concerns

    In a recent development, China’s market regulator has enforced stringent measures on the supermarket chain, Sam’s Club, which is owned by Walmart. The regulator has initiated these steps as part of a bid to eradicate food safety risks from the company’s supply chain and ensure public dietary safety.

    The directive comes as Sam’s Club is actively pursuing expansion activities in China. As a result of new store openings, the company achieved double-digit growth in its transactions last year. This has increased the number of its membership-only stores to 63 across the nation, as per the data available on the company’s website.

    The decision was made following a meeting with a top-level executive from the U.S. retail giant to address recently identified food safety concerns. The State Administration for Market Regulation shared this information in an announcement on Monday, without specifying the date on which the meeting took place.

    As of now, Walmart’s China office has not responded to any requests for comments on this matter.

    In response to the regulator’s directive, Sam’s Club has issued an apology stating, “We will consistently report the progress of our rectification measures to the regulatory authorities and willingly accept their supervision.”

    In an effort to rectify the situation, the grocery chain has established an exclusive task force, headed by its management. This team is responsible for conducting supply chain inspections to ensure compliance with regulations and maintain the highest standards of product quality control.

    Questions & Answers

    What actions has China’s market regulator taken against Sam’s Club?
    The regulator has ordered Sam’s Club to enforce strict measures to eliminate food safety risks in its supply chain and ensure public dietary safety.

    What was the reason behind the regulator’s directive?
    The decision was made following a meeting with a top-level executive from Sam’s Club to address recently identified food safety concerns.

    What steps is Sam’s Club taking in response to the regulator’s orders?
    Sam’s Club has established a specialized task force, led by its management, to ensure strict compliance with regulations and maintain the highest standards of product quality control. The company will also regularly update the regulatory authorities about the progress of these rectification measures.

  • Chinese Regulator Slaps Billion-Dollar Fines on Food Delivery Giants over Safety Violations

    Chinese Regulator Slaps Billion-Dollar Fines on Food Delivery Giants over Safety Violations

    China’s market regulator recently imposed fines and seizures on seven e-commerce platforms, totaling 3.6 billion yuan (US$527.32 million), for failing to adhere to food delivery safety guidelines. The offenders include prominent companies such as Pinduoduo, Meituan, JD, ByteDance’s Douyin, and Alibaba’s Taobao Shangou.

    Violation of Safety Protocols

    Investigations revealed that these companies did not implement necessary measures to protect consumers. They were also found to be negligent in verifying the licenses and qualifications of online food vendors. The regulator has expressed concern over this lax approach towards consumer safety and vendor credibility.

    Pinduoduo responded to the penalties by stating that the company “sincerely accepts and will resolutely comply” with the regulator’s decision. It also pledged to learn from this episode, standardize its business procedures, and make necessary improvements. However, Meituan, ByteDance, and Alibaba did not respond immediately to requests for comments.

    Intense Competition in China’s Food Delivery Market

    In the past year, food delivery in China has witnessed escalating competition, with e-commerce giants like Alibaba and JD actively trying to gain market share. These companies have been offering attractive discounts and coupons on a wide range of products, including ice cream and takeaway coffees.

    This battle to establish dominance in the ‘instant retail’ domain, where goods are delivered within an hour, has affected profits and attracted regulatory attention. Chinese regulators have repeatedly cautioned against the unhealthy “race-to-the-bottom competition” prevalent among food delivery firms.

    Questions & Answers

    What prompted the fines on the e-commerce platforms?
    The companies violated food delivery safety protocols and failed to verify the qualifications and licenses of online food vendors.

    How have the companies reacted to the fines?
    While Pinduoduo has openly accepted and pledged to comply with the regulator’s decision, Meituan, ByteDance, and Alibaba have not responded immediately to the penalties.

    Has the increased competition in food delivery affected the companies?
    Yes, the escalated competition, epitomized by discounts and coupons, has not only squeezed profits but also attracted regulatory scrutiny due to a “race-to-the-bottom competition” mentality.

  • Revolution in Digital Age Verification: Child Safety Advances Amid Global Social Media Clampdown

    Revolution in Digital Age Verification: Child Safety Advances Amid Global Social Media Clampdown

    In recent years, technology firms have been reluctant to constrict minors’ access to their platforms, citing technical constraints, practicality issues, overreach, and security threats. However, an increasing number of governments are now viewing these challenges as surmountable and are moving forward with stringent new age-verification requirements for social media networks, AI chatbots, and adult content providers alike.

    Global Regulatory Shifts

    Following Australia’s notable prohibition on adolescent social media accounts three months ago, regulatory bodies across Europe, Brazil, and several U.S. states are seeking to replicate the move. High-profile political figures such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and former President Donald Trump have also reportedly shown interest in implementing age restrictions.

    The driving forces behind these regulatory changes are mounting anxieties over online abuse and adolescent mental health issues, recent outrage over AI-generated explicit images of children, and a growing faith in the potential of ‘age assurance’ software. Such software can estimate an individual’s age based on facial analysis, parental permission, ID checks, and other digital hints.

    Technological Advancements and the Age Assurance Market

    Recent strides in artificial intelligence have enhanced the efficiency and reduced the cost of age-verification tools. Social media enterprises can now often accurately determine a user’s age group using digital indicators such as the account creation date and the type of content viewed. Meanwhile, an emerging industry of age-verification vendors offers added layers of checks through automated tools like facial scans and machine-based analysis of government IDs.

    App store platforms like Apple and Google have also introduced tools that enable parents to communicate their child’s age range to app developers. This overall improvement in technology and the resultant drop in verification costs have expanded the scope of its application.

    Cost and Effectiveness of Age Verification

    Age-verification vendors usually charge less than a dollar per check for basic machine-only age-assurance tools. Traditional methods that were standard a decade ago, such as human confirmation and triangulation of personal data, are still available at a premium but are needed less frequently. Furthermore, independent evaluations show progress in the accuracy and precision of these tools.

    For example, face-scanning software was off in age estimations by an average of 4.1 years in 2014, while by 2024, this average has dropped to 2.5 years. The latest models from vendors like Yoti and Persona boast of an average error of less than two years for the age range of 13 to 18.

    Challenges and Limitations

    Despite these advancements, there are still limitations. The systems face difficulties with certain skin tones and older phones. Also, they might fail to catch attempts by youngsters to appear older than they are. However, executives believe that facial age estimation can offer a digital equivalent of offline age screening.

    Adding to this, social media services generally require fewer facial scans and ID checks than adult content or gambling sites due to the abundance of personal information they have on users. This allows them to depend more on an age-verification method called ‘inference’.

    Early Implementation Results

    While it’s too early to assess the full impact of Australia’s teen ban, preliminary results are promising. According to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, companies have blocked 4.7 million suspected underage accounts since the law came into effect. Regulators in other countries are closely monitoring these developments as they consider implementing similar measures.

    Questions & Answers

    What are some of the driving forces behind the implementation of age verification measures?
    Concerns over online abuse, adolescent mental health issues, and the spread of AI-generated explicit child images have all contributed to the push for stricter age verification measures.

    How have technological advancements influenced the age assurance market?
    Advancements in artificial intelligence have improved the efficiency and lowered the cost of age-verification tools. This has broadened the scope of their application beyond high-value transactions.

    What limitations do current age-verification systems face?
    Current age-verification systems can struggle with certain skin tones and older phones. They may also fail to catch attempts by youngsters to appear older than they are. These challenges highlight the need for ongoing refinement and improvement in this technology.

  • Cambodia Tightens Grip on Retail Fuel Sales to Ensure Safety and Stability

    Cambodia Tightens Grip on Retail Fuel Sales to Ensure Safety and Stability

    The Ministry of Commerce in Cambodia has sent out a public appeal to all citizens and fuel station owners to desist from hoarding fuel in an attempt to maintain a stable supply chain throughout the country. The public notice, issued on the 6th of March, further implores strict adherence to safety standards when selling and storing petroleum products, as a measure to mitigate any potential safety hazards.

    Emphasizing Risk Management in Fuel Trade

    The Ministry stressed on the importance of risk management in the processes of buying, selling, and storing fuel. This is deemed critical to protect consumers and preempt any accidents that could potentially result from unsafe storage practices. It also highlighted that improper or excessive storage of fuel can lead to severe risks, such as fire hazards that could pose a threat to properties and community safety.

    Appeal for Responsible Fuel Usage

    In the public notice, the Ministry further urged the citizenry to use fuel responsibly and refrain from panic buying or unnecessary stockpiling of fuel. The notice cautions that excessive storage could lead to unwarranted safety challenges.

    Continual Inspections by Regulatory Officials

    Simultaneously, officials from the Ministry’s General Department of Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression, in collaboration with provincial and municipal commerce departments and local offices of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, are conducting regular inspections of fuel stations across the country. These checks aim to ensure that the stations are in compliance with technical standards, maintain fair practices in fuel sales and proactively prevent any cases of opportunistic price manipulation or irregular price hikes.

    Questions & Answers

    What measures are being taken by the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce to ensure a stable fuel supply?
    The Ministry has issued a public notice urging the citizens and fuel station operators to avoid hoarding fuel and to adhere to safety standards when selling and storing petroleum products.

    What is the importance of risk management in the fuel trade as highlighted by the Ministry?
    The Ministry emphasizes that proper risk management in buying, selling, and storing fuel is critical to protect consumers and prevent accidents arising from unsafe storage practices.

    What is the purpose of continual inspections of fuel stations?
    The ongoing inspections by ministry officials aim to ensure that fuel stations comply with technical standards, maintain fair practices in fuel sales, and prevent opportunistic price manipulation or irregular price increases.

  • Revolutionizing Road Safety: Jio and NHAI Unveil Real-Time Mobile Alerts on Indian Highways

    Revolutionizing Road Safety: Jio and NHAI Unveil Real-Time Mobile Alerts on Indian Highways

    In a collaborative effort to enhance safety and enrich the travel experience along National Highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has partnered with Reliance Jio to launch a telecom-based alert system. This system will provide motorists with real-time alerts as they approach high-risk zones such as accident-prone areas, sectors with stray animals, fog-affected strips, or regions with temporary traffic alterations.

    How the Safety Alert System Works

    The alert system will tap into Jio’s comprehensive 4G and 5G coverage, delivering notifications through various channels such as SMS, WhatsApp, and high-priority automated calls. The system will automatically cater to all Jio users traveling on or near the National Highways without any need for extra equipment.

    Future plans involve integrating this system with NHAI’s digital services like the ‘Rajmargyatra’ app and the 1033 emergency helpline, creating a unified digital safety network. Given Jio’s vast user base of over 500 million, the telecom giant’s far-reaching network will be instrumental in extending this initiative nationwide.

    Official Statements

    The Chairman of NHAI, Shri Santosh Kumar Yadav, highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating it as a significant advancement in offering timely and trustworthy information to commuters. He believes that this will allow motorists to make informed decisions and adopt safer driving habits well ahead of time, setting a new standard in tech-enabled road safety management on National Highways.

    Jio’s President, Mr. Jyotindra Thacker, further stressed the abilities of telecom networks in efficiently disseminating alerts, which can significantly contribute to reducing the number of road accidents. The initial phase of the project will concentrate on identifying high-risk areas and setting up real-time alert systems in selected NHAI regional centers, all while complying with regulatory and data protection requirements.

    Future Prospects

    In addition to the partnership with Jio, NHAI also envisions collaborating with other telecom operators to expand the alert system’s reach across the nation. This initiative exemplifies NHAI’s commitment to embracing advanced, scalable solutions aimed at improving safety, intelligence, and efficiency on India’s highways.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the purpose of the telecom-based alert system introduced by NHAI and Jio?
    The system aims to enhance safety and enrich the travel experience on National Highways by providing real-time alerts to motorists as they approach high-risk areas.

    How will the alerts be delivered to the users?
    The alerts will be disseminated through various channels such as SMS, WhatsApp, and high-priority automated calls using Jio’s comprehensive 4G and 5G coverage.

    What is the future plan for this safety alert system?
    The plan involves integrating this system with NHAI’s existing digital services and collaborating with other telecom operators to expand the system’s reach nationwide.

  • Malaysia Tightens Digital Safety Nets: ID Checks and Under-16 Social Media Ban on the Horizon

    Malaysia Tightens Digital Safety Nets: ID Checks and Under-16 Social Media Ban on the Horizon

    Beginning in 2026, Malaysia will prohibit individuals under 16 years old from registering for social media accounts. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil emphasized this government initiative during a recent cyber scam awareness seminar, highlighting the goal to enhance online safety for minors. Consequently, from next year onwards, social media platforms will need to introduce identity verification procedures to confirm that their users meet the requisite age threshold.

    Global Safety Measures

    Fadzil clarified that this new regulation, which restricts social media usage for individuals younger than 16, is set to be implemented in Australia in the coming month. Malaysia will be monitoring the effectiveness of similar initiatives in other nations to inform the development of its own safeguards.

    This strategy forms an integral part of a wider campaign to guard Malaysian children under the Online Safety Act, which will take effect from January 1, 2026. Fadzil also advised parents to promote their children’s participation in outdoor activities to reduce their screen time on digital devices, while simultaneously supervising their usage of these technologies.

    Raising the Age Limit

    The Malaysian Cabinet resolved last month to increase the minimum age for social media users to 16, a rise from the formerly proposed age of 13. This decision also necessitates that social media platforms authenticate users’ ages during the registration process using official identification documents like the MyKad, passports, and MyDigital ID. Furthermore, the Cabinet debated the formation of a dedicated task force to detect issues impacting schools across the country.

    Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also disclosed that the Cabinet is contemplating prohibiting smartphone usage for those under the age of 16.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the new minimum age for social media registration in Malaysia from 2026?

    The new minimum age for social media registration in Malaysia will be 16 years old from 2026.

    Why is the Malaysian Government introducing this regulation?

    The Malaysian Government is introducing this regulation to enhance online safety for minors, reducing their exposure to potential cyber threats.

    What measures will social media platforms need to take?

    Social media platforms will be required to implement identity verification measures during registration to confirm the age of users. This may involve the use of official identification documents such as the MyKad, passports, or MyDigital ID.

  • Malaysia Amplifies Youth Online Safety: Social Media Age Limit Raised to 16 with Mandatory ID Checks from 2026

    Malaysia Amplifies Youth Online Safety: Social Media Age Limit Raised to 16 with Mandatory ID Checks from 2026

    Starting from 2026, Malaysia has decided to raise the age restriction for social media registration to 16 years old. This decision was announced at a recent cyber scam awareness seminar, led by Minister of Communications, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The Malaysian government has expressed its commitment to safeguarding children online, and these steps are part of that pledge.

    Identity Verification and Age Restrictions

    Social media platforms will be required to put identity verification measures into place. The aim is to ensure that young users meet the revised age limit. Datuk Fahmi Fadzil explained that a similar regulation has already been planned for implementation in Australia, and that Malaysia will study and learn from the implementation strategies of other countries to develop the most effective practices.

    This initiative is part of an overarching plan to safeguard Malaysian children online. This plan will become law with the Online Safety Act, which will be effective from January 1, 2026.

    Guidance for Parents

    Parents have been encouraged to promote outdoor activities for their children and to monitor their usage of electronic devices closely, in order to reduce screen time. The intention is to cultivate healthier habits in children and to prevent them from becoming overly reliant on digital media.

    Addressing Social Media Use in Schools

    Last month, the Malaysian Cabinet proposed an increase in the minimum age for social media users to 16, a change from the previously suggested age of 13. In order to ensure this, social media platforms will need to verify the ages of users during registration using official identification documents such as MyKad, passports, and MyDigital ID.

    Furthermore, the Cabinet reviewed the idea of establishing a special task force to identify and address issues that schools across the country might be encountering due to the use of social media among students. In line with these discussions, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has disclosed that the Cabinet is also considering imposing a ban on smartphone usage for individuals below the age of 16.

    Questions & Answers

    Q: What changes are being made to social media registration in Malaysia?
    A: From 2026, the minimum age for social media registration in Malaysia is being raised to 16 years. Social media platforms will also be required to implement identity verification measures during registration.

    Q: What is the purpose of these changes?
    A: These changes are part of the Malaysian Government’s plan to protect children online. The measures are intended to ensure that young users meet the age requirement for social media usage.

    Q: What else is the Malaysian government considering to protect children online?
    A: In addition to the changes in social media registration, the Malaysian government is considering the establishment of a task force to address issues arising in schools due to students’ use of social media. There are also discussions about potentially banning smartphone usage for those under 16 years old.

  • Japan Airlines Enhances Liver Function Checks and Suspends High-Risk Pilots Amid Drinking Incidents

    Japan Airlines Enhances Liver Function Checks and Suspends High-Risk Pilots Amid Drinking Incidents

    Following a string of concerning incidents involving pilots and alcohol consumption, Japan Airlines is revamping its safety protocols by introducing stricter measures aimed at safeguarding passengers and restoring public confidence in air travel.

    This week, the airline announced new regulations in response to a reprimand from the Transport Ministry, which mandated improvements in their safety procedures. Among the most significant changes is the suspension of pilots whose liver functions fall below acceptable levels, part of an initiative to prevent future violations.

    As a direct consequence of this review, six pilots have been suspended, as reported by Kyodo News. These measures come in the aftermath of several high-profile incidents where pilots were found drinking before flights, blatantly defying an internal ban instituted last December. Recent events have raised alarms, most notably a case where a pilot consumed alcohol prior to a flight from Hawaii, leading to delays impacting three flights for up to 18 hours, according to the Japan Times.

    This particular incident highlighted a troubling pattern; the pilot, already in hot water, had previously disregarded the no-drinking policy and even tampered with the settings of a sobriety testing device. Japan Airlines responded swiftly, dismissing the offending pilot and implementing pay cuts for the airline’s president and several executives.

    Despite the December ban designed to curb such behaviors, communication lapses within the company have allowed these issues to persist, according to Nikkei Asia. Pilots at Japan Airlines typically earn around 20.05 million yen (approximately US$135,000) annually, standing in stark contrast to the significantly lower salaries of ground staff and cabin crew, which average 6.43 million yen and 5.92 million yen, respectively.

    Interestingly, some pilots argue that moderate drinking provides a necessary release after grueling long-haul flights compounded by the stress of busy schedules as travel demand surges. Japan Airlines, acknowledging its past failures in enforcing the drinking ban, has committed to collaborating with labor representatives to explore more effective safety measures moving forward.

    Questions & Answers

    What prompted Japan Airlines to implement stricter safety measures?
    The airline was mandated to enhance its safety protocols following a reprimand from the Transport Ministry in light of several drinking incidents involving pilots.

    How many pilots have been suspended due to these incidents?
    Six pilots have already faced suspensions as a direct result of the airline’s new safety regulations.

    What are some of the challenges Japan Airlines faces regarding pilot behavior?
    Despite having a drinking ban in place, some pilots have disregarded it, with communication gaps within the company contributing to ongoing issues related to alcohol consumption before flights.

  • Shein Invests $15 Million in 2025 to Enhance Product Safety and Compliance Standards

    Shein Invests $15 Million in 2025 to Enhance Product Safety and Compliance Standards

    Global online fashion giant Shein is stepping up its commitment to product safety with a substantial $15 million investment slated for 2025. The objective? A robust enhancement of safety and compliance protocols across its expansive platform.

    Ambitious Testing Plans

    In an exciting move, Shein has set its sights on conducting a staggering 2.5 million product tests this year—a notable 25% increase from 2024. This ambitious target underscores the retailer’s dedication to ensuring that every item meets rigorous safety standards.

    Partnerships for Excellence

    The company is significantly expanding collaborations with a roster of 15 globally recognized testing agencies, such as SGS, Intertek, and Bureau Veritas. This partnership is pivotal in aligning with stringent global safety regulations, including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) and the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR).

    Commitment to Compliance

    Shein is holding all vendors accountable, including third-party sellers, by enforcing adherence to strict safety laws and internal benchmarks, like their Restricted Substances List (RSL). The retailer has also broadened its approved materials library, allowing only tested fabrics, trims, and accessories to be used.

    New Standards for Children’s Clothing

    Starting April 2025, Shein will implement new regulations ensuring that all fabrics used in children’s clothing under its brands pass comprehensive chemical and flammability testing. The same compliance measures will apply to trims and accessories, attesting to Shein’s strong commitment to child safety.

    Increased Scrutiny Ahead

    From May 2025, the retail giant will bolster documentation checks for high-risk products, which include electronics, toys, cosmetics, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Relevant certifications, such as RoHS and FCC, will be mandatory for these items.

    Zero Tolerance for Non-Compliance

    Since launching its marketplace, Shein has proactively removed over 540 sellers who failed to comply with safety standards. Vendors will now face performance evaluations based on compliance testing outcomes and customer feedback, with poor performance risks including listing bans or termination. Additionally, Shein has pledged to report any high-risk non-compliant products to the relevant authorities when necessary.

    As Shein reinforces its safety standards, one can’t help but wonder: what’ll they think of next? Perhaps a new line of clothes that also doubles as protective gear!

    Questions & Answers

    What is the key focus of Shein’s investment in 2025? The $15 million investment is aimed at bolstering product safety and compliance measures throughout its platform.

    How many product tests does Shein plan to conduct this year? Shein aims to conduct 2.5 million product tests in 2025, reflecting a 25% increase from 2024.

    What will the new standards require for children’s clothing by April 2025? All fabrics for children’s clothing must pass chemical and flammability testing, along with similar compliance requirements for trims and accessories.

  • 1Password boosts account security with new recovery codes feature

    1Password boosts account security with new recovery codes feature

    1Password, the popular password management app, has announced a new feature called recovery codes designed to make it easier for users to recover their accounts. This new feature is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to improve the user experience.

    The new recovery codes will allow users to regain access to their 1Password account even if they forget their master password or lose their Secret Key. Before recovery codes, if users forgot their master password or lost their Secret Key, they would be locked out of their account and unable to access their data. This caused frustration and stress for both users and 1Password support.

    With recovery codes, users can create a unique code that can be used to regain access to their account. The code can be generated from within the 1Password app for Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, or 1Password.com, and should be stored in a safe and secure location.

    Recovery codes are reusable and will remain valid after they’re used. If a user recovers their account with a recovery code, they will be asked to create a new master password and will receive a new Secret Key. The new Secret Key will be used to log in to the 1Password account on all devices.

    1Password has stressed that the introduction of recovery codes does not change the security of 1Password accounts. The company claims that the recovery process is safe and requires two separate steps to complete: email verification and the recovery code. That said, Secret Keys are not going away, and recovery codes are intended to be used only if the user forgets their master password and/or loses their Secret Key.

    Family Organizers of 1Password Families accounts will still be able to recover accounts for other family members. However, recovery codes will give family members an additional option to regain access to their accounts themselves.

    According to 1Password, millions of people trust the company with their sensitive information. As such, the introduction of recovery codes is a welcome addition to provide peace of mind to its users.

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  • Waze adds ability to personalize drives, launches new zodiac driving experience

    Waze adds ability to personalize drives, launches new zodiac driving experience

    Waze is launching two new features at the same time this month, which is a little bit unusual for the navigation app. I know everyone is used to getting a new driving experience almost every month, this time around Waze is bringing more than just a fun way to spend your time while driving.

    The company announced earlier today plans to bring Waze users more ways to stay entertained on the road with Customize Your Drive and an astrological driving experience. The new ability to personalize drives allows users to choose from various driving experiences and access more such content in one place. For example, you’ll be able to select a theme that fits your mood and change it with ease.

    Whether you’re driving with some of your favorite personalities like Boy George, Christina Aguilera, or Karamo, or looking for something more kid-friendly like PAW Patrol or Fraggle Rock, there’s certainly something for everyone on their journeys.

    Now, the bad part is that while “Customize Your Drive” features is rolling out in the United States today, it will be launched globally in the future. So, unless you live in the U.S., you won’t be able to personalize your driving experience yet.

    On the bright side, there’s something else available those who don’t have access to “Customize Your Drive,” a new zodiac driving experience! Regardless of your zodiac sign, Waze’s resident astrologer has the right driving experience for you.

    The new zodiac driving experience includes a custom vehicle and Mood for each of the 12 signs. Waze users can start driving with a vehicle and Mood that match their sign today. If you live in the United States, the zodiac driving experience can be found through “Customize Your Drive,” The rest of the world can find it via the left menu in the Waze app.

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  • Snapchat launches family control portal

    Snapchat launches family control portal

    Snap is further improving Snapchat’s parental features with the launch of a full-fledged Family Center that offers parents more insight into who their teens are friends with on the social app. While the new in-app tool will provide parents with information about their children, the contents of their conversations will remain secret.

    It’s a feature specifically designed by Snap and reflects the way that parents engage with their teens in real life, where parents usually know who their teens are friends with and when there are hanging out, but don’t eavesdrop on their private conversations.

    One feature that’s not yet available but will be added in the future update is a new option that will allow parents to view all the new friends their children have added in Snapchat.

    Also, the Family Center allows parents to report any accounts that may be concerning directly to Snap’s Trust and Safety teams. Additional resources are available to both parents and teens using Family Center, which will help them have open conversations about online safety.

    Last but not least, Snap announced that more features will be added to Family Center this fall, including new content controls for parents and the ability for teens to notify their parents when they report an account or a piece of content via Snapchat.

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  • Samsung Internet browser adds new privacy and safety features, User Experience improvements

    Samsung Internet browser adds new privacy and safety features, User Experience improvements

    Samsung’s internet browser app is about to get another big update that focuses mainly on security and User Experience improvements. Released as Samsung Internet Beta 17, the most recent app build brings new features that further enhance privacy and safety.

    The highlight of Samsung Internet Beta 17 is Smart Anti Tracking, a privacy and security feature that allows smartphones to automatically remove tracking cookies. Everything is possible thanks to the on-device machine learning, which identifies trackers used by a website and removes them.

    The Smart Anti Tracking feature will be turned on by default in regions like Europe, South Korea and the United States, which means users these parts of the world won’t have to worry about enabling it. The rest of the world can look for the new feature in the setting menu and choose to Always enable it or just when Secret mode is active.

    Furthermore, Samsung Internet Beta 17 make HTTPS scheme the default way to browse websites. Unlike the previous HTTP scheme, HTTPS provides a much safer way to transfer data between the browser and a server.

    Another interest new feature is the addition of a new panel to the Quick Access Page called “privacy board.” This is where you can get an overview of your security and privacy settings for easy access, and it also provide the ability to see Privacy reports.

    More importantly, Samsung Internet Beta 17 introduces “Live Text,” a new feature that allows users to copy, translate or web search on text within an image on the internet. To do that, you just have to long press on an image in the web page and a new Live Text UI should pop up to let you choose what you want to do.

    Along with these new features that focus on privacy and safety for the most part, Samsung has included a bunch of UX enhancements. Here are the most important ones:

    • Bottom URL bar: When tapping the URL bar using the ‘bottom layout’, the URL bar will be shown directly above the keyboard when editing. All the basic functions and interactions are the same as the top layout.
    • Shortcut to move to Customize menu: Move to Customize menu when long pressing on any button of Tools menu to make it easier to edit items
    • Drag and Drop in Bookmark: Provides Drag and drop to move bookmark item in the Bookmark bar
    • Video subtitle position enhancement: Subtitle position enhancement of Subtitle extension for Fullscreen video.

    Samsung Internet Beta 17 is available as a separate download via the Galaxy Store. If you don’t feel like testing a non-final version of the software would be a good idea, you can definitely wait for the stable version to come out in the just a few weeks (hopefully).

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  • Volvo Cars To Harness Real-Time Data From Customer Cars To Set New Safety Standards

    Volvo Cars To Harness Real-Time Data From Customer Cars To Set New Safety Standards

    The next generation of Volvo cars are set to be the company’s safest ever, thanks to cutting-edge software and hardware levels, coupled with continuous and more rapid improvements to safety features with the help of real-time data. Volvo Cars has always taken a data-driven approach to safety, using traffic data from real-life situations to develop new safety technologies and make its cars even safer. For its next generation of cars, Volvo Cars is now looking towards processing data from customer cars in real-time, if customers choose to share data and help Volvo Cars make its cars safer.

    Volvo Cars and Zenseact are investing in a data factory that will contain over 200 PebiBytes (225 million gigabytes) of data within the next few years.

    By allowing customers to choose and be a part of improving safety levels and traffic safety in this way, Volvo Cars can make continuous and much faster improvements to its cars, constantly improving safety levels. This data would include continuous inputs on the car’s environment from sensors like the high-resolution LiDAR delivered by technology company Luminar.

    Volvo Cars engineers would be able to validate and verify autonomous drive (AD) features quicker, to promote a safe roll-out of AD technology. Thanks to the data generated from millions of kilometers driven by tens of thousands of Volvo drivers around the globe, engineers would be able to validate AD features for specific geographic locations much quicker than with a limited number of cars on a test track.

    Verified updates to existing systems and new features can be rolled out rapidly through over-the-air updates, increasing the safety of Volvo cars step by step. The first car to benefit from this new approach to safety development is the company’s first SUV on a completely new electric-only technology base.

    To process the real-time traffic data they will collect, Volvo Cars and Zenseact are investing in a data factory that will contain over 200 PebiBytes (225 million gigabytes) of data within the next few years. By using artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, data can be crunched at record times. Customers will be able to choose whether this data is collected about them, and all collected data will be aggregated with adequate safeguards for customer privacy.

    Volvo Cars engineers would be able to validate and verify autonomous drive (AD) features quicker, to promote a safe roll-out of AD technology.

    The use of real-time data is part of Volvo Cars’ longer-term vision for a future where collisions simply no longer happen, by equipping its cars with some of the best sensors available and advanced, continuously improving safety and autonomous drive systems.

    Volvo Cars’ forthcoming fully electric flagship SUV will have industry-leading safety technology as standard, helping the company to save even more lives as it sets a new standard for automotive safety. It will come with state-of-the-art sensors, including a LiDAR developed by Luminar and an autonomous driving computer powered by the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin system-on-a-chip, as standard.

    By combining this state-of-the-art hardware with software by Volvo Cars, Zenseact and Luminar for the next generation of its well-established collision avoidance technology, Volvo Cars expect its new safety package to reduce fatalities and accidents as a whole.

    Over time the car will improve and have the hardware and software capabilities to allow the car to take over on its own, in case the driver does not respond in life-threatening situations after repeated warnings. So while the driver always remains in ultimate control, the car and its safety technology can both support and watch over the driver like an extra pair of eyes and brains.

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