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#onlinesafetyact

19 posts · Last used Sep 15

Neil Brown @neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
· 1mo ago
New blogpost: "Initial thoughts on the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Bill" I try to think the best of people and their intentions, so this might be just one big mistake, but honestly, wow... I cannot imagine someone attempting, with a straight face, to impose strict criminal liability on cafe and pub owners, for what their customers say. https://neilzone.co.uk/2026/09/initial-thoughts-on-the-social-media-platforms-ofcom-licensing-bill/ #OnlineSafetyAct #lawfedi #blog
Initial thoughts on the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Bill
neilzone.co.uk

Initial thoughts on the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Bill

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Neil Brown @neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
· 3mo ago

Ofcom has published an interesting new update into its investigation under the #OnlineSafetyAct into the "suicide discussion forum".

Amongst other bits, this caught my eye:

We recognise that geoblocks are not a perfect solution and do not fully eliminate all risk of harm, especially for individuals who choose to access the forum through VPNs or other similar technologies masking a UK location.

Nevertheless, Ofcom is not pushing further now, suggesting that as long as a provider does not promote VPNs etc as a means of circumvention, a site need not attempt to detect UK users using a VPN.

ofcom.org.uk
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Ret @ret@furry.engineer
· 3mo ago
So... after almost a decade of failure in the online regulation space, perhaps some legislative navel gazing is finally about to take place... I encourage every single person negatively affected by the #OnlineSafetyAct to submit evidence here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/9955/the-online-safety-act-implementation-and-impact/news/217266/online-safety-act-inquiry-launched-by-committee/ If your freedom of expression, security or privacy has been curtailed in any way, however minor, submit evidence. That includes people who have been forced to submit data to unregulated third party age verification processors. That includes people who have had to remove content from their blog or website for fear of censorship and legal harassment by Ofcom - an unelected quango. That includes people who have felt that their speech or artistic expression has been limited. I will be submitting evidence as a website/service operator. #OnlineSafetyAct
committees.parliament.uk
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petersuber @petersuber@fediscience.org
· 3mo ago
#Wikipedia just dodged a bullet in the UK but is still in danger. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2026-07-13/Special_report The bullet was the possibility of Category 1 classification under the UK Online Safety Act. It was spared that classification but remains on a "watch list" of platforms that "could become Category 1 at any point in the future." If Wikipedia is later classified as Category 1, then either (1) contributors could no longer be pseudonymous or (2) Wikipedia would be subject to severe penalties under UK law. How severe? The maximum penalty could include a fine up to £18 million, a UK-wide denial of access, and personal criminal liability for senior managers. #Anonymity #OnlineSafetyAct #UKLaw
en.wikipedia.org
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Neil Brown @neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
· 3mo ago

Another #OnlineSafetyAct update:

Ofcom has published a "Register of categorised services and list of emerging Category 1 services".

Category 1 services - to which the most substantive obligations under the OSA apply - comprises:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Quora
  • Reddit
  • Roblox
  • Snapchat
  • TikTok
  • WhatsApp
  • X
  • YouTube

The list of emerging Cat 1 services is interesting:

  • iMessage
  • Messenger
  • Threads
  • Wikipedia

ofcom.org.uk
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sͧb̴ͫƸ̴gͬᵉ @subm3rge@infosec.exchange
· 4mo ago
Perhaps the responsible thing to do is to destroy any network where #chatcontrol or #OnlineSafetyAct is active. To keep the less aware, less knowing, and less caring from hurting themselves. Perhaps those [of us] with knowledge have a duty to burn it down, before it becomes a tool of [further] oppression. I really really miss the 90:s Internet, and some days it hurts badly. We really allowed a good thing to go to $#!7, perhaps we need to start over.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
· 4mo ago
The UK government could announce restrictions on VPNs next month. This would threaten our privacy and security. VPNs keep young people safe from harassment. Businesses secure. Journalists, activists and whistleblowers protected. Here's why we must #ProtectVPNs 🧵 Sign the petition if you agree ⬇️ https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-government-protect-vpn-use-uk#vpn #vpns #cybersecurity #privacy #onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #ageverification #StopKillingTheInternet #ukpolitics #ukpol
Tell the Government: Protect VPN use in the UK
action.openrightsgroup.org

Tell the Government: Protect VPN use in the UK

Take action! Protect VPN use in the UK VPNs help people to stay private and safe online. Young people use them to avoid harassment, or protect location data. Companies use them to make sure remote log-in to their networks are secure. Journalists, campaigners and whistle blowers use them to protect their work and themselves. But the Government wants to force people to verify their age when they buy a VPN. This will deter people from using VPNs to stay safe and secure online. Why are the governmen

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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
· 4mo ago
Social media bans don't work. Yet it's happening globally as leaders try to grab headlines with creeping digital ID checks. This doesn't take on how platforms are designed to capture users' attention with harmful content through data-driven algorithms so they can sell ads. ORG's @JamesBaker@social.openrightsgroup.org explains ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/bBTjPwubE92HMVGtt9dN2Z#stopKillingInternet #socialmediaban #socialmedia #onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #privacy #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol #kierstarmer
Social media bans don't work #stopKillingInternet
peertube.openrightsgroup.org

Social media bans don't work #stopKillingInternet

Social media bans don

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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
· 4mo ago
Boosted by @Dragofix@veganism.social
Replying to
A global movement to #stopKillingInternet is coming. Bans will wall off the open Internet. Kids locked out and adults pushed through digital ID checks. Connection and access to information is being swept away for a policy that leaves platforms free to continue promoting harmful content for profit. Find out more ➡️ https://www.stopkillingtheinternet.com/#socialmediaban #socialmedia #onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #privacy #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol #kierstarmer
Stop Killing the Internet
stopkillingtheinternet.com

Stop Killing the Internet

Big tech and governments are walling off the open internet. We oppose restrictions and advance alternatives that protect people and their rights.

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The Unknown Universe @unknownuniverse@unkn.uk
· 4mo ago
Boosted by @trending@homestead.social
The UK PM has just announced an under-16 social media ban. This is the 'Trojan Horse' in action. You cannot enforce a ban without an Age Verification layer, and you can’t have Age Verification without a National Digital ID or bio-metric database. They are using the 'child safety' card to build a mandatory surveillance gate for the entire internet. Between the new taxes and the constant bans, it’s clear this government has zero respect for personal agency or digital sovereignty. If you aren't already moving your data off the cloud and into your own home lab, start now. The gap between our current society and a total surveillance state just got a whole lot smaller. #UKPolitics #OnlineSafetyAct #Privacy #Surveillance #DigitalID #AgeVerification #MassSurveillance #DigitalRights
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Neil Brown @neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
· 4mo ago

And here's the official announcement of age verification coming to everyone in the UK who wishes to use "social media":

Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-to-be-banned-for-under-16s-in-landmark-government-move-to-givekids-their-childhood-back

#OnlineSafetyAct

Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back
gov.uk

Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back

Social media platforms to be blocked from offering services to under-16s, marking a line in the sand and setting a new normal for future generations.

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Mx Verda @MxVerda@lgbtqia.space
· 5mo ago
Replying to
Oho...? https://www.tumblr.com/hrhowling/816817207863558144https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation #UK #UnitedKingdom #OnlineSafetyAct #SnoopersCharter #OnlineSafety #internet #DigitalID #Age #AgeVerification
tumblr.com
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Mx Verda @MxVerda@lgbtqia.space
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@ people with kids, wards, young people, duty of care, friends of, family of, neighbours of, and whatever else: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation #UK #UnitedKingdom #OnlineSafetyAct #SnoopersCharter #OnlineSafety #internet #DigitalID #Age #AgeVerification
Growing up in the online world: a national consultation
gov.uk

Growing up in the online world: a national consultation

We consulted on further measures to prepare children for the future in an age of rapid technological change. This includes potential age restrictions on social media and other services such as gaming sites and AI chatbots, restrictions on addictive design features and risky functionalities, and better support for parents and families.

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Mx Verda @MxVerda@lgbtqia.space
· 5mo ago
Replying to
" we need to consider whether additional measures could build on our existing approach and ensure the UK remains the safest place for children to be online. [...] What happens next This consultation will close on the 26 May 2026. The government has committed to taking swift action on its findings. On 16 February 2026, the Prime Minister announced new legal powers to allow the government to act swiftly after the consultation response, without waiting for new primary legislation. We will publish our response in summer 2026. " https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation#UK #UnitedKingdom #OnlineSafetyAct #SnoopersCharter #OnlineSafety #internet #DigitalID #Age #AgeVerification
Growing up in the online world: a national consultation
gov.uk

Growing up in the online world: a national consultation

We consulted on further measures to prepare children for the future in an age of rapid technological change. This includes potential age restrictions on social media and other services such as gaming sites and AI chatbots, restrictions on addictive design features and risky functionalities, and better support for parents and families.

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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
· 8mo ago
Ending online harms isn't a game of whack-a-mole. The only way is to bust the business model that rewards harmful results. Nothing changes until we break the spell that keeps us on platforms; the harvesting of our data to maximise engagement and fuel advertising. We need to get off the regulatory treadmill and #BreakBigTech. Sign the petition ⬇️ https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/break-big-tech #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #bigtech #meta #x #musk #zuckerberg #ukpolitics #ukpol
you.38degrees.org.uk

Break Big Tech: Dismantle the root cause of online harms | 38 Degrees

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Police State UK @PoliceStateUK@mastodon.me.uk
· 8mo ago
"British politicians and authorities are working intensively to escalate #censorship and mass #surveillance. In just the past year alone, they have attempted to force Apple to (secretly) install backdoors in its end-to-end encrypted cloud service; censorship has been introduced with the #OnlineSafetyAct; proposals for client-side scanning and government spyware on all UK phones..." #UKPol
And then? And then Mullvad was censored in the UK.
mullvad.net

And then? And then Mullvad was censored in the UK.

UK ramps up censorship & surveillance. Mullvad

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Freezenet @freezenet@noc.social
· 9mo ago
Pornhub to (Mostly) Block the UK Over Ridiculous Age Verification Laws Pornhub says that UK access to its site will cease as of February 2nd for most users, giving people more incentives to use things like VPNs. https://www.freezenet.ca/pornhub-to-mostly-block-the-uk-over-ridiculous-age-verification-laws/ #Business #Censorship #News #AgeVerification #Aylo #OnlineSafetyAct #Pornhub #UK #VPN
Pornhub to (Mostly) Block the UK Over Ridiculous Age Verification Laws - Freezenet.ca
freezenet.ca

Pornhub to (Mostly) Block the UK Over Ridiculous Age Verification Laws - Freezenet.ca

Pornhub says that UK access to its site will cease as of February 2nd for most users, giving people more incentives to use things like VPNs.

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Tom Morris @tommorris@mastodon.social
· 10mo ago
Boosted by @cstross@wandering.shop

RE: https://cyberplace.social/@GossiTheDog/115826683070912702

The UK government’s official internet policy:

  1. if you run a web forum or fedi instance, you need to do a bunch of paperwork to comply with the #OnlineSafetyAct to protect the kids.

  2. if you are rich and run a neo-nazi website with officially posted virtual CSAM, politicians won’t leave despite that being a million times worse than anything you’d read on a forum about fixed gear cycling or a mastodon server run by some queer furries running arch for their polycule.

Incredibly coherent.

cyberplace.social
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