@neil rarely have I been so disappointed with my country. As this government veers closer to outright authoritarianism (digital ID cards, support of a genocide, attacks on trans rights), this law will empower them further.

I hope one day the people responsible for this face a human rights court. That’s the politicians that ignored human rights to win popularity from newspapers. That’s civil servants at Ofcom that “just followed orders” to enable it. It won’t happen, because there’s no fairness in this world. But it should. #OnlineSafetyAct

> We have been forced to geo-block access from the United Kingdom to the lgbtqia.space services and community.

> This action is a direct result of the UK's Orwellian "Online Safety Act" a piece of legislation that, despite its name, is incredibly dangerous to online privacy and makes the internet absolutely not safe for marginalized communities and the volunteers who run services like this one.

This isn't new, but I saw it again this morning, and it made me sad.

#OnlineSafetyAct

Imgur Blocking UK Highlights Age Verification Regulatory Catch-22

Imgur has blocked the UK after complaints about its violations of privacy of its age verification system.

https://www.freezenet.ca/imgur-blocking-uk-highlights-age-verification-regulatory-catch-22/

#Censorship #News #Privacy #AgeVerification #fine #ICO #Imgur #OnlineSafetyAct #UK

‘We’re here to help.’

Yes, we’re here to help you track your users, force them to give up sensitive identity data, and possibly to a third party that may have poor regard for security and play fast and loose with personal information.

Thanks for the help, Ofcom.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/sep/21/were-here-to-help-how-ofcom-is-urging-porn-sites-to-follow-the-online-safety-act

#OnlineSafetyAct #OSA #Ofcom

The next stage of the UK’s slide into digital authoritarianism involves restricting anyone from commenting or reacting to any under 18s live stream. So much for any teenage game or YouTube streamer! #onlinesafetyact #Streaming https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/online-safety-additional-safety-measures

Alt...

Screen grab of Ofcom’s additional safety duties consultation outlining restrictions to live streaming

With everything going on with OfCom it’s looking as if the normal web is going to be flipped on its head. It does make me question what is actually going to come of it maybe the Fediverse will raise #OfCom #onlinesafetyact #UK

@openrightsgroup
Anything that undermines the #OnlineSafetyAct is likely a very good thing.

I know this was a a Tory bill, but #UKLabour specialise in wrong choices and this was a doozy. But then there are so many others.

@thomasfuchs Sort of happening over here (UK) #OnlineSafetyAct

At the moment, because of the #OnlineSafetyAct, I've had to block UK users from hearing the audio. So if you go to a page like this: https://www.girlonthenet.com/blog/kissing-at-the-speed-of-consent/ and click 'play', and you're browsing from a UK IP address, Cloudflare blocks you from hearing the audio.

It basically spits out a 403 error, and the play button doesn't work. This is good for compliance with the law, but SHIT for users who probably just assume my website is broken.

I admit I laughed in delight. False equivalance yes, but the UK Online Safety Act isn't deterring them then?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c203pedz58go

#uk #OnlineSafetyAct #OSA

VPNs protect families, businesses and democracy.

They keep NHS data secure, help parents manage online risks, and give people in repressive states access to news.

Treating VPNs as a “problem” is misguided. Attacking them is an exercise in throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Efforts should focus on educational measures for young people and regulating the age verification industry.

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #VPN #VPNs #privacy #cybersecurity #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

VPNs aren’t a meaningful threat to age assurance.

⚫ 6–12 year olds are very unlikely to use them, due to technological and economic barriers.

⚫ Older teens already know other workarounds. For these teenagers educational rather than ineffectve technical interventions might be more appropriate.

⚫ Adults use VPNs as they don’t trust unregulated age assurance providers with their personal data.

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #VPN #VPNs #privacy #cybersecurity #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

VPNs must not face the chop 🚫

Next week the UK House of Lords will debate whether VPNs undermine the Online Safety Act.

Banning or blocking VPNs will shatter security, privacy and free expression in a self-defeating attempt to make the unworkable workable.

Read our briefing ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/publications/briefing-vpns-and-the-online-safety-act/

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #VPN #VPNs #privacy #cybersecurity #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol #ageverification

UK Expands Age Verification to Full Blown Content Removal Demands

It apparently wasn't enough to prevent access to content for the UK, they want some forms of content removed completely.

https://www.freezenet.ca/uk-expands-age-verification-to-full-blown-content-removal-demands/

#Censorship #News #AgeVerification #FreeSpeech #OnlineSafetyAct #UK

The UK Online Safety Act is a badly designed, overblown law that's laying waste to content online.

The government must address the threats to freedom of expression from over-moderation, not use Henry VIII powers to extend its scope.

Write to your MP ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-your-mp-online-safety-act-isn%E2%80%99t-working

#OnlineSafetyAct #OSA #onlinesafety #freespeech #freedomofexpression #ukpol #ukpolitics #censorship

The UK Online Safety Act is ballooning in scope.

Bumping up 'self-harm' content as a priority offence means these sort of posts will be stripped from social media for adults and kids.

ORG's @JamesBaker explains how this change to the law will result in therapeutic or support content being censored.

Watch now ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/gQq5ccfPvw3ibzt1EwNMuX

#OnlineSafetyAct #OSA #onlinesafety #freespeech #freedomofexpression #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol

Censorship creeps onwards 🤐

Ignoring issues with the UK Online Safety Act, the government is using Henry VIII powers to engulf more content.

Aimed at blocking 'self-harm' content, algorithms will misidentify support resources and content will vanish behind age gates.

https://www.digit.fyi/uk-gov-to-toughen-online-safety-act-against-self-harm-content/

#onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #osa #censorship #freespeech #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

Algorithms will hyperactively dredge feeds of what's 'illegal' before people even see it.

Platforms will over-moderate, rather than face penalties. The impact on protest about Palestine is far-reaching when up against automated censorship.

Write to your MP that the UK Online Safety Act isn't working ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-your-mp-online-safety-act-isn%E2%80%99t-working

#onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #censorship #freespeech #PalestineAction #Palestine #gaza #ukpol #ukpolitics

What's 'illegal' is open to interpretation.

UK terror laws criminalise people for taking part in a proscribed group AND for expressing 'support' which is 'reckless' in getting others to support it.

Duties on platforms under the UK Online Safety Act encourage automated moderation that disproportionately affects marginalised political speech.

#PalestineAction #Palestine #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #freespeech #freedomofexpression #censorship #gaza #ukpol #ukpolitics

Platforms have a duty to mitigate the risk of 'illegal' content under the UK Online Safety Act.

Faced with unclear definitions, they'll over-moderate content about protest and Palestine solidarity.

Especially as Ofcom advises platforms they can bypass OSA duties by censoring more than is required!

#PalestineAction #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #gaza #freespeech #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #Palestine #protest

The Palestine Action ban in the UK is hitting the streets and our feeds.

Beyond mass arrests, the Online Safety Act requires social media platforms to block 'illegal' content.

This is leading to the over-censorship of content relating to Gaza and protest.

Read more ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/human-rights-defenders-raise-concerns-that-online-safety-act-will-lead-to-censorship-of-palestine-protest/

#PalestineAction #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #gaza #freespeech #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #Palestine #protest

@neil I'm a polite person, so I'm not going to ask why you noticed this just now. ;-)

#OnlineSafetyAct

The Open Rights Group is working on an amendment to the OSA which would propose a small site exemption, for sites that are maintained without a view to profit, with a small number of active users, and which the owner reasonably believes to pose no risk to users.

If you want to give thoughts on various parts of the potential amendments, there's a form here:

https://cloud.openrightsgroup.org/nextcloud/apps/forms/s/dQB6GSRQ4jHzGjxiYG5tAnDB

#OnlineSafetyAct

The UK Online Safety Act is a badly designed, overblown piece of legislation that's laying waste to content online.

Ofcom must take stock of these threats to freedom of expression in their guidance and Parliament must reform the Act.

Write to your MP ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-your-mp-online-safety-act-isn%E2%80%99t-working

#OnlineSafetyAct #OnlineSafety #osa #censorship #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol #privacy

How do you solve a problem like the UK Online Safety Act? 😵‍💫

ORG is calling for a rights-based approach.

One that limits the scope of the OSA to minimise threats to free expression and regulates the age verification industry to protect privacy.

Here’s how ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/publications/how-to-fix-the-online-safety-act-a-rights-first-approach/

#OnlineSafetyAct #OnlineSafety #osa #freespeech #privacy #freeexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #ofcom #censorship #ageverification

The UK Online Safety Act is an unworkable mess 💩

Can it be changed? And if so, is there the political will to do it?

Instead of doubling down on more censorship, Ofcom and the government must take steps to protect freedom of expression.

ORG's Sara Chitseko and @JamesBaker discuss.

Watch now ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/qi2DNB98c1C2Ny7Kg1Zg4v

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #osa #ukpol #ukpolitics #freespeech #freeexpression #freedomofexpression #censorship #ofcom #privacy

Hey folks! I am looking for a post that was in /explore around Jul 31 - a screenshot of someone explaining that BMW had shuttered its UK forums and moved to Facebook, because of the #OnlineSafetyAct. My search-fu is failing me. Anyone know the post I'm talking about (or have a link to a source giving details of the move)?

Thank you!

The UK regulator Ofcom is consulting on the use of proactive tech to scan, check and remove content before people even see it.

Combined with the weak protection for free expression in the Online Safety Act, the UK public risk facing widespread censorship online.

Tell your MP it has to change ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-your-mp-online-safety-act-isn%E2%80%99t-working

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #ukpolitics #ukpol #ofcom #freespeech #freedomofexpression #freeexpression #censorship

Content takedowns under the UK Online Safety Act could go further ⚠️

Damaging free expression has knock-on effects. It limits what we get to know about in the public interest and how we can hold power to account.

ORG's Sara Chitseko and @JamesBaker discuss the impact on live-streaming.

Watch now ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/a34kKNvs3iyAUTSQSofwX7

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #ukpolitics #ukpol #freedomofexpression #freespeech #freeexpression #censorship #ofcom

Laws of unintended consequences

There is some concern that the language used in upcoming #Islamophobia legislation will introduce #blasphemy laws through the back door.

What does appear to be a real concern is that this is being introduced without proper consultation with experts - a little like #Proscription and the #OnlineSafetyAct

http://archive.today/2025.08.25-212311/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/uk-social-unrest-labour-islamophobia-definition-dk9dvrmrt

@Captain_Jack_Sparrow I can understand the motivation. The French have been urging the U.K. to make it more difficult to people to work in the nation for some years. However expect HMG to take it far further than necessary for that objective. See the #OnlineSafetyAct and #Encryption for starters.

Any good articles on everything bad about age verification and the lack of privacy they bring and stuff, and why it’s a bad idea to give websites your ID or let the government know every website you use?

Yes there are plenty of fedi toots talking about this but I want like a single link I can easily send people when they defend this shit.

#AgeVerification #OnlineSafetyAct

Pest against pest:

BBC News - #4chan will refuse to pay daily online safety fines, lawyer tells BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq68j5g2nr1o

#OnlineSafetyAct

Nexus Mods announce age verification for UK users https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2025/08/nexus-mods-announce-age-verification-for-uk-users/

#Modding #NexusMods #OnlineSafetyAct #UK #Gaming

Algorithms will hyperactively dredge feeds of what's 'illegal' before people even see it.

Platforms will over-moderate, rather than face penalties.

The impact on protest and debate is far-reaching when up against automated censorship.

Write to your MP (UK) ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-your-mp-online-safety-act-isn%E2%80%99t-working

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #osa #censorship #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

The UK Online Safety Act is trashing free speech 👁️‍🗨️

Automated filters designed to blot out 'illegal' content will result in over-moderation.

This has serious consequences, particularly when combined with the proscription of Palestine Action.

Hear from ORG's Sara Chitseko and @JamesBaker.

➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/u7J4aHLHLXVsq8xKye5Ub7

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #osa #freespeech #freedomofexpression #PalestineAction #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol