Adults banned from searching children's computers or phones under a new law passed in Chongqing, southwest China

It is a ruling that teenagers around the world will regard with a certain amount of envy. Parents in one Chinese city are to be prevented from snooping on their children's online activity and text messages.

Adults, including family members, are banned from searching through children's computers or phones under a new regional law passed in Chongqing, southwest China, state media...

• Average speed 46% below that promised by ISPs
• Mandatory code and clear penalties vital, experts say

Millions of broadband users are being sold short by providers that are delivering speeds far below those advertised, according to research published today.

Data released by Ofcom, the communications regulator, shows that the gap between the headline broadband speeds customers sign up for and the connection they actually receive has widened sharply in the last 12 months. The average...