Original version

BBC World Service Online

Click

Digital Planet

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Technological and digital news from around the world.

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Digital Planet: Big tech platforms to protect women online

Factual: Science & Nature

Internet troll sending mean comment to picture on imaginary social media website with smartphone

06/07/2021 GMT

Big tech platforms to protect women online

BBC World Service - Digital Planet, Big tech platforms to protect women online

For the first time four of the Big tech platforms are committing to protect women online

Big tech platforms to protect women online.  Also a wireless pacemaker that dissolves in the body and tech that reduces car pollution from tyres.

Four of the world’s biggest tech platforms are adopting a new set of commitments to tackle online abuse and improve women’s safety online.  This is the  first time there has been cross-industry collaboration on ways companies can address the issue.  Web Foundation Senior Policy manager Azmina Dhrodia is on the show to explain how, while Azerbaijani journalist Arzu Geybulla tells us about some of the abuse she has received online.

Wireless pacemaker that dissolves in the body
A wireless pacemaker that can dissolve in the body has been created for patients who need only temporary help to regulate their heartbeat. Pacemakers can be used for short periods, especially after open heart surgery, but are associated with quite a few issues such as infection from leads or the dislodging of the power supply and damaging heart tissue on removal.  Professor John Rogers from Northwestern University, Illinois in the US, has developed a battery-free pacemaker that can be implanted directly onto the surface of the heart and it can then be absorbed by the body when no longer needed. He’s on the programme to discuss the tech that made the invention possible.


Reducing car pollution from tyres
Future car pollution will mainly come from tyres, not the exhaust.  Even now tyre and road wear pollution is one of the leading causes of microplastics in the air. Our reporter Jason Hosken has been investigating how technology can be used to reduce the harmful impacts of tiny tyre particles, that are released from vehicles as they drive along.

(Image: Internet troll sending comment to picture on imaginary social media website with smartphone
Credit: Tero Vesalainen/Getty Images)

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell with expert commentary from Bill Thompson.

Studio Manager: John Boland
Producer: Ania Lichtarowicz

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Digital Planet

Big tech platforms to protect women online

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service