Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈Due to the UK's ridiculous Internet laws I cannot view the images on some delightful work on SimCity4 unless I have a VPN.
And the crackpot UK Government want to ban the use of VPN's now!
Neil BrownOfcom has announced new rules under the #OnlineSafetyAct, to tackle the distribution of unsolicited sexual images.
In summary, in-scope providers must:
* make it easy for people to report this content to the platform operator;
* have content moderation teams that are appropriately resourced and trained to deal with this content;
* have content moderation systems and processes designed to take down this content swiftly when the platform becomes aware of it; and
* provide users with tools to block or mute other users.
Stewart TolhurstYou may remember that I wrote to my MP regarding the online safety act after my husband got into a age verification loop? My MP has actually wrote back. It’s very much spouting the government line on ‘save the children’ - but does acknowledge that privacy and security shouldn’t be compromised (which is, of course what makes the whole thing so technically difficult). Will it make any difference? Probably not, but at least he’s read my view and hasn’t completely written me off as a tin-foil-hatted conspiracy theorist… #OnlineSafetyAct #AgeVerification
An interesting letter from Ofcom, about the UK's proposed social media ban for children / age verification of everyone.
The letter stops quite a way short of saying that the plan is feasible.
The most that Ofcom says is that it "*should* be technically feasible" - not "is" or "will be", but merely "should".
It then goes on to explain various technical challenges.
The Unknown UniverseStarmer is out, but the surveillance contracts aren't going anywhere.
Politicians love the theatre of a resignation, but the "Online Safety Act" is still a rigged market. It’s a vicious circle: private firms help write the laws, then "win" the contracts to fix the problems they invented.
https://the.unknown-universe.co.uk/privacy-security/vicious-circle/
#Privacy #UKPolitics #DigitalID #CyberLinkUK #SelfHosting #FOSS #OnlineSafetyAct
Politicians love the theatre of a resignation, but the "Online Safety Act" is still a rigged market. It’s a vicious circle: private firms help write the laws, then "win" the contracts to fix the problems they invented.
https://the.unknown-universe.co.uk/privacy-security/vicious-circle/
#Privacy #UKPolitics #DigitalID #CyberLinkUK #SelfHosting #FOSS #OnlineSafetyAct
PrivacyDigestThe UK’s New Under-16 #SocialMedia #Ban Will Cause More Harm Than It Prevents
This week, politicians in the #UK pushed forward with plans to eviscerate #privacy and free speech on the internet by announcing a ban on social media for users under 16 that is set to take effect in Spring 2027.
The UK government continues to falsely characterize this policy as a necessary response to growing concerns about online harms for young people. In reality, much like the #OnlineSafetyAct , it will cause more harm than it will prevent.
The UK’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban Will Cause More Harm Than It Prevents
This week, politicians in the UK pushed forward with plans to eviscerate privacy and free speech on the internet by announcing a ban on social media for users under 16 that is set to take effect in Spring 2027. The UK government continues to falsely characterize this policy as a necessary response...
Alec Muffett^- Advisory: this newsletter comes from a group of people containing - arguably led - by many of the minds who naively brought about the #OnlineSafetyAct and concept of "duty of care" applied to places which host user-generated content, thereby enabling censorship & where we are today.
Oops.
Oops.
Police State UK"We want all children to be safe online, but these policies create new safety and privacy risks for young people and entire adult populations alike. Far from reining in Big Tech in, age-gating policies gift corporations masses more of our personal information whilst letting them off the hook for their design choices."
Jochie 👨🏻💻🏳️🌈I hear you, 100%, and I've also been wondering how long it will be until this is designated "a home-grown VPN in the spirit of the law" and targeted just the same as VPNs themselves?
Open Rights GroupThe 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
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 government proposing restrictions to accessing VPNs?