Mastodawn

Digital checkpoints will crop up all over the Internet after UK MPs backed new powers to expand age verification.

The only way to block under-16s is to run checks on everybody.

That's millions more people having to hand over personal data to unregulated providers just to access everyday services.

Watch now ⬇️

#ageverification #digitalid #socialmedia #socialmediaban #freedomofexpression #childrensbill #privacy #ukpoltics

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Open Rights Group Apr 28

The problem of online harms lies with the underlying business models of social media platforms.

Digital ID age checks do nothing to change that.

We need to disrupt the advertising-driven business models built on surveillance, profiling and maximising engagement.

Sign our petition #BreakBigTech ⬇️

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/break-big-tech

#ageverification #digitalid #socialmedia #socialmediaban #freedomofexpression #childrensbill #privacy #ukpoltics #ukpol

Break Big Tech: Dismantle the root cause of online harms

Platforms like X, Facebook and Instagram harvest our personal data so that they can target us with ads. Their platforms are designed to keep us online, pushing out content that will keep us engaged. Their power to shape and control what we see online is not only harming children and adults but democracy itself. But we often feel locked in, not wanting to leave the spaces where we still have friends, family and followers. The Government says it’s holding Big Tech to account over online...

38 Degrees

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Open Rights Group Apr 28

The UK Parliament continues to pursue an approach to online safety that doesn't work.

The Australian under-16 social media ban has failed to make any difference and people have sought ways around it.

Digital ID age checks come at the cost of everyone's privacy and free expression. The math ain't mathing.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/most-australian-teens-admit-social-111400429.html

#ageverification #digitalid #socialmedia #socialmediaban #freedomofexpression #childrensbill #privacy #ukpoltics #ukpol

Most Australian teens admit the social media ban isn’t working as they try to sidestep age verification blocks with face masks and their parents’ IDs

A new survey found more than 60% of Australian kids between 12 and 15 are still using at least one social media platform following a ban implemented last...

Yahoo News UK

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Open Rights Group Apr 28

“In less than a year, we’ve gone from proposals to check ID for porn to the prospect of checking ID to access social media or unlock everyday features such as livestreams or feeds.

These online ID systems put both children and adults’ sensitive data at risk.”

🗣️ @JamesBaker for ORG.

#ageverification #digitalid #socialmedia #socialmediaban #freedomofexpression #childrensbill #privacy #ukpoltics #ukpol

Open Rights Group Apr 28

Papers, please!

Digital ID age checks have taken another lunge forward. UK MPs have agreed to new powers to expand age verification across online platforms.

More and more everyday web services will be locked behind digital checkpoints, despite the serious privacy and security risks of this system.

Papers Please! MPs back mass online digital ID checkpoints.

Open Rights Group has warned that new powers agreed by MPs in the Children and Schools Wellbeing Bill to expand age identification across online platforms risk creating a system of digital checkpoints.

Open Rights Group

Jules 🍺Apr 1

No driverless taxis until we're consulted
Have you seen this? Uber wants to launch driverless taxis in the UK in September, and nobody asked drivers or passengers. Takes 10 seconds to sign:
https://the.organise.network/campaigns/no-driverless-taxis-until-were-consulted?utm_campaign=wSHH89LEyG&utm_medium=native&utm_source=share
#ukpol #ukpoltics #uber #uberDriverless

No driverless taxis until we're consulted

Have you seen this? Uber wants to launch driverless taxis in the UK in September, and nobody asked drivers or passengers. Takes 10 seconds to sign:

Jonathan Emmesedi Mar 22

https://youtu.be/V_5uav6DZ5g?si=A4w_uTV8jzUP135D

Rory Stewart gives a clear explanation of what's happening in the Iran war and why the UK should have no part in it.

#Iran #UKPoltics #RoryStewart

Trump's Iran strategy is 'very weird', says Rory Stewart

YouTube

JuneSim63 💚Oct 19, 2025

The Green Party of England and Wales just put on 6,000 new members today, taking it to 130,000.

Coincidentally, our leader, Zack Polanski, was on Laura Kuennsberg this morning. Just shows that giving our policies exposure gives people hope.

#GreenParty #UKPoltics

https://bsky.app/profile/zackpolanski.bsky.social/post/3m3l55eczxs2r

Zack Polanski (@zackpolanski.bsky.social)

Something extraordinary is happening. +6000 new members in ONE SINGLE day. @greenparty.org.uk just hit 130,000 members and rising!!! Join.greenparty.org.uk

Bluesky Social

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈Oct 16, 2025

Not the Boomers here on Mastodon, the ones out there, in the general population, believing everything the Press tells them...fucking up the lives of younger generations out of spite like they did with Brexit.

Crying about "wokeness" and having to treat people different to them as human beings, the 'oppression' of it all.

And then there's the fact the Climate is fucked and never unfucking itself

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/opinion/boomers-the-luckiest-generation-in-history-have-cruelly-become-the-most-pernicious-at-the-ballot-box-398106/

#UKPOL #UKPOLTICS #Immigration #Economy #GenerationalWealth #Boomers

Boomers: the luckiest generation in history have cruelly become the most pernicious at the ballot box

Despite enjoying several structural advantages, Boomers have consistently voted in ways that make life harder for those who follow.

The London Economic

Steven Heywood Sep 26, 2025

"Meanwhile, the reasons to elect a Labour government – say, tackling child poverty or building a humane benefits system – go largely unmet and unfulfilled. It is why the latest talk about scrapping the two-child benefit limit feels empty, as we are forced yet again to play the game where a government with a working majority of 156 pretends all of this is out of its hands."

#UKPoltics
#UKLabour

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/26/keir-starmer-labour-conference-prime-minister

Starmer should have conference in his hands – instead, power is slipping through his fingers

Last year’s triumph has turned into a groundhog day loop of missed chances and bad calls. The PM needs to change tack – but is he capable of it? asks Guardian columnist Frances Ryan

The Guardian