Mastodawn

Ok a more serious comment about the UK Online Safety bill. Back in summer of 2021, when Apple proposed to build client-side “content scanning” into iPhones, Alex Stamos and I worried publicly that some countries would use it for purposes far beyond child abuse imagery. And here in 2023 we now have examples.

Matthew Green Jan 18, 2023

The fact that the UK is the nation demanding these new laws shouldn’t surprise anyone. It seemed like they were the nation driving 2021’s push for content scanning. Although China certainly has more actual clout, the UK/US relationship makes things more challenging — because US authorities are generally supportive.

Matthew Green Jan 18, 2023

For example, here is an open letter to Facebook signed by US AG William Barr and the UK Home Secretary making essentially the same demands as the UK Online Safety bill is trying to pass into law. (Nothing about small boats though.) https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1207081/download

Allan Svelmøe Hansen Jan 18, 2023

@matthew_d_green It's "funny" (not ha-ha funny, but isn't that strange funny) - that the 'slippery slope' argument is considered a fallacy, yet so very often seems to actually be true when it comes to stuff like these things. It's like a competition to implement the most dystopian version of the world.

Not a Spring Onion Jan 18, 2023

@svelmoe @matthew_d_green It is not a fallacy when it's an agenda.

Of course content scanning will be used to censor inconvenient truths. And to hide critical voices.

Full automated, invisible censorship is way too "good" not to use it.

maddie (MOVED!)

@matthew_d_green before you know it, they'll start using this technology to censor "disinformation," which could have disasterous consequences depending on what's considered harmful or disinformative

Gareth Kitchen Jan 18, 2023

@matthew_d_green There's no doubt that US and UK authorities are working together to regain control. Think of the blow they were dealt following the Snowden revelations and the subsequent dash for encryption. For them the internet is going dark and they want to change the dynamics.

Brett Glass - WY7BG Jan 18, 2023

@matthew_d_green We all knew the proclivities of governments. No surprise at all. When will we see the first mandates to scan for “blasphemy” by countries with governments controlled by repressive religious groups?

parenTessaLation Jan 19, 2023

@brettglass @matthew_d_green scanning for hajib correctness would fall under this, no?

So, it's already here. Killing people.

iamBullivant Jan 18, 2023

@matthew_d_green What on earth is 'video footage that shows people crossing the Channel in small boats in a "positive light"'?

Are they attempting to censor the news by removing all such footage?

Sunshine and Wind Jan 18, 2023

@matthew_d_green
There needs to a place for what should be filtered/blocked. Just a corporate entity and a government Change Request is too blunt an instrument.

I seem to recall FB have group/council to consider those things.

This should be wired into government democratic processes. And there should perhaps be one of these supra-content-moderation councils per country.

dimmsdale Jan 18, 2023

@matthew_d_green Great job, Tories! Now we can require re-shooting all those "woke" movies & TV shows celebrating "Dunkirk," whatever that was

Paul Gowder Jan 18, 2023

@matthew_d_green dear god

Piers Young Jan 18, 2023

@matthew_d_green As long as video footage that shows politicians in a “positive light” is added to the list of illegal content, then I have no objection …

Andrew Jan 18, 2023

@matthew_d_green interesting to note that the starkest example of "material likely to cause people to cross the channel in small boats" must surely be our nation's policy of not having a safe and legal route to enter. Can we please have that material removed under this bill?!

Lizard Jan 19, 2023

@matthew_d_green Is crossing the channel in large boats OK? How about rowboats? Inner tubes? Waterskis?

genstar.service Jan 19, 2023

⬆️https://ioc.exchange/@matthew_d_green/109710309659855379

Matthew Green (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image Ok a more serious comment about the UK Online Safety bill. Back in summer of 2021, when Apple proposed to build client-side “content scanning” into iPhones, Alex Stamos and I worried publicly that some countries would use it for purposes far beyond child abuse imagery. And here in 2023 we now have examples.

IOC.exchange

@matthew_d_green Umm...including this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ships_of_Dunkirk

Little Ships of Dunkirk - Wikipedia

Mark Jan 20, 2023

@matthew_d_green I'm confused. Is it illegal to cross the English channel in a small boat? Or swimming with no boat at all? Are only the wealthy with big boats allowed to cross?