HighlandLawyer
At a cafe today, saw/heard a group of teenagers using the wifi. One of them obviously went to a site with new OSA age challenge; after brief (mild) profanity, consensus of group was just to log in using parent's photo (already on phone) & date of birth. Total delay, not more than a couple of minutes, including craic among the group.
#Anecdata #OnlineSafetyAct #NotFitForPurpose
Jul 26, 2025 at 3:30pmTusky
Show threadJohn Faithfull 🌍πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ ΏπŸ§‘βœŠπŸ»βœŠπŸΏJul 26, 2025
@HighlandLawyer what a surprise 😬
Show threadColin H.Jul 26, 2025
@HighlandLawyer It's somewhat reassuring that the OSA's implementation has been every bit as much of a performative, half-arsed and pointless box-ticking exercise as the Act itself is.
Show threadNudeln Al Dente 🐘Jul 26, 2025
@GlasWolf @HighlandLawyer The problem is that it's a box-ticking exercise that's fucked about with a lot of small businesses' livelihoods while still not stopping a moderately motivated teenager. πŸ™„
Show threadwoe2youJul 26, 2025
@GlasWolf @HighlandLawyer Full marks to them. I'm well over 18 (please don't ask how much) but I will take every workaround I can find rather than hand over PII to a verification provider I can't trust.
Show threadRetJul 26, 2025
@HighlandLawyer now that's efficiency
Show threadMaddad β˜‘οΈJul 26, 2025

@HighlandLawyer

It's not about that corporations have gone moral... it's about gathering data on individuals.
Those kids just gave up their parents privacy and digital rights.

Show threadGraham SmithJul 26, 2025
@HighlandLawyer doesn't sound exactly 'highly effective'.
Show threadnetworkstringJul 26, 2025

@cyberleagle @HighlandLawyer as if the AV vendor cares, they don't face the fine and still got paid.

Sounds like a brilliant business model.

Show threadThe Vampire Fish QueenJul 26, 2025
@networkstring @cyberleagle @HighlandLawyer And they have the ICO in there pocket.
Show threadnetworkstringJul 26, 2025

@TheVampireFishQueen @cyberleagle @HighlandLawyer that's a bit far fetched.

Is it unsettling / unacceptable that the OSA didn't have some sort of extra stuff that bolstered the DPA for all AV stuff? Yes.

Is it proof of the ICO being 'in the pocket' of these firms? I don't think so.

Show threadThe Vampire Fish QueenJul 27, 2025
@networkstring @cyberleagle @HighlandLawyer I agree with you, and sorry I just a bit mad at how this all has turned out. Hopefully we can get this law fixed or repealed.
Show threadGeoff 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Jul 26, 2025
@HighlandLawyer I'm really looking forward to the "accidental" leak of all the porn signups from the Palace Of Westminster. Guaranteed all the major sites already have a "probably an MP or Lord" flag in place.