Google UK Chief: Ban Not Smart, Wants Safer Guards

0:00From across Europe, powered by AI, this is Europe News Today. I'm Corey with the story. Google's top executive in the UK is pushing back hard against banning social media for anyone under 16. Kate Alessie, who leads Google UK in Ireland, says that kind of blanket restriction just isn't smart. She argues it could shove kids straight into darker, less monitored parts of the web, where real dangers lurk. Google, which runs YouTube, wants smarter safeguards instead of total shutdowns. This comes amid growing pressure on the UK government to cut off young users from these platforms entirely. Officials are hearing from parents, experts, and now big tech on balancing safety with access. The conversation keeps evolving as everyone searches for ways to protect kids without isolating them online.