Tell your MP to attend the debate on the Online Safety Act https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-your-mp-attend-debate-online-safety-act #onlinesafetyact

Hmm... UK minister says they "will not hestitate to go further" on online safety if needed. I'm not certain that the current #OnlineSafetyAct is working (and there's a debate on that in Parliament on Monday) so that may be a statement to be challenged and rethought. #ukigf25

The UK Online Safety Act is already producing harmful unintended consequences.

ORG urges MPs to support a more balanced, evidence-based and rights-respecting approach that protects children without harming freedom of expression, privacy or the existence of small sites.

Read our briefing ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/publications/briefing-online-safety-act-parliamentary-petition-debate/

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

From dodgy age verification to censorship, the UK Online Safety Act has gone wrong.

That's why over 500k people have told the government to think again.

MPs will debate this petition on 15 December.

Tell your MP to turn up for our digital rights ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-your-mp-attend-debate-online-safety-act

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

Headline says VPN use is up bit actual story is it’s been declining in U.K. since August. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/10/uk-porn-traffic-down-age-checks-vpn-use-up-ofcom #VPN #OnlineSafetyAct

All going swimmingly in the land of trying-to-enforce-UK-laws-extraterritorially, I see.

https://prestonbyrne.com/2025/10/18/the-granite-act-how-congress-can-strike-back-against-foreign-censors/

#OnlineSafetyAct

I follow a guy here who posts about the online safety act, but I can't remember who it is. I'm in a computer club with about 50 people who are worried about self-hosting a comms channel. Its my impression this is not very risky.

#OnlineSafetyAct #UK

"Ofcom has told the BBC it has never heard from a porn company it has fined £1m for failing to comply with the UK Online Safety Act."

"4Chan has so far refused to comply with a £20,000 fine issued by Ofcom"

Well, colour me surprised, we never foresaw overreach being ignored, did we?

#OnlineSafetyAct

@openrightsgroup meanwhile the local cycling forum has shut down over #onlineSafetyAct enforcement.

‘The devil’s in the detail’

Hear from ORG’s @JamesBaker on the intersection of the Database State and AI in #DigitalID, how Ofcom’s Magnum Opus of #OnlineSafety regulations abdicates responsibility for social problems to #BigTech, and the self sabotage of trying to break #encryption.

But in the end, ‘opposition creates innovation’ ✊

Listen now ⬇️

https://vpetersson.com/podcast/S02E20.html

#onlinesafetyact #ukpol #ofcom #privacy #cybersecurity #tech #ukpolitics

If you are interested in attacks on E2EE, the online safety act and digital ID then this might well be the podcast episode for you https://vpetersson.com/podcast/S02E20.html #DigtialID #Privacy #onlinesafetyact

ICYMI, Ofcom has published the evidence submitted to its consultation on additional duties for categorised services. 41 submissions here. #OnlineSafetyAct https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/third-phase-of-online-safety-regulation

It enrages me that the #OnlineSafetyAct means I can't give UK people free audio any more, but if you're in the UK use code OSA for a massive discount (and do it before Dec 1st if you'd like a card - https://www.girlonthenet.com/blog/2025-christmas-cards/)

If you're in the UK and you're blind or need audio for other accessibility reasons, drop me an email hellogirlonthenet at gmail dotcom.

RE: https://mastodon.social/@zackwhittaker/115548207069277963

For advocates of the #OnlineSafetyAct, having other people’s passports, driving licences or other government issued IDs leaked is collateral damage they can tolerate.

Presumably they’ll be quite cheesed off when it happens to them. (I am hoping they’re smart and just use a VPN instead.)

This is entirely predictable and also incredibly stupid.

Is Ofcom coming for VPNs?

Monitoring their use through the narrow lens of whether the UK Online Safety Act is working is shortsighted.

"It’s important to note VPNs can help protect children's security online too, they aren’t just used to avoid content blocks."

🗣️ ORG's @JamesBaker

https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/exclusive-ofcom-is-monitoring-vpns-following-online-safety-act-heres-how

#vpn #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #osa #ofcom #privacy #security #cybersecurity #ukpolitics #ukpol

ohh, interesting you can post imgur URLs to Mastadon to get around the #onlineSafetyAct blocks they have

This link gives me a 451-compliant error message, but preview image loads in Tusky

Message scanning powers are sleeping on the statute book. They must never get activated.

The UK government has already tried to make Apple put a backdoor in its encrypted services. It's clear they want to recklessly dismantle our cybersecurity protections.

We must save encryption to #PracticeSafeText 💬

#GlobalEncryptionDay #encryption #e2ee #privacy #cybersecurity #security #OnlineSafetyAct #ukpolitics #ukpol #surveillance

Powers in the UK Online Safety Act to introduce message scanning technology is far from an online safety measure. It's a gift to predators and stalkers❗

Forcing a backdoor into encrypted systems so everything we send can be scanned makes us vulnerable to anybody who wants to exploit that weakness.

#PracticeSafeText #GlobalEncryptionDay #encryption #e2ee #privacy #cybersecurity #security #OnlineSafetyAct #ukpolitics #ukpol #surveillance

Practice Safe Text for Global Encryption Day 🔒

Messaging apps we use to chat, share and plan shield us from scams, stalking and sextortion.

But the UK Online Safety Act contains a time bomb that lets the government break encryption for surveillance.

Find out more about our campaign ➡️ https://www.openrightsgroup.org/campaign/save-encryption/

#PracticeSafeText #GlobalEncryptionDay #encryption #e2ee #privacy #cybersecurity #security #OnlineSafetyAct #ukpolitics #ukpol #surveillance

Alt...

Image of a red and yellow message icon as a 3D baloon with a children crossing sign on the skin. Text reads: Save Encryption – Practice Safe Text.

Encryption scrambles what we send on messaging apps.

Only the person you’re talking to can make sense of it. That’s your chats, pics and deets for their eyes only.

This is how we protect kids, parents and people experiencing domestic abuse from those who want to use your private life against you.

#PracticeSafeText #GlobalEncryptionDay #encryption #e2ee #privacy #cybersecurity #security #OnlineSafetyAct #ukpolitics #ukpol #surveillance

The Ofcom Tea Party: 4Chan Lawyer publishes Ofcom correspondence, British regulator claims “sovereign immunity” to defend itself – and sovereign powers to regulate foreign companies
https://alecmuffett.com/article/117792
#4chan #OfcomFiles #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #PrestonByrne #censorship #ofcom #surveillance

Livestreaming and social media are essential for activism.

From the Hong Kong protests to Black Lives Matter, social media has provided real-time coverage to challenge official narratives and inform public debate.

Protest crackdowns must not be mirrored in content takedowns.

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

Proactive scanning will go further and faster at silencing dissent.

Under the UK's broad definition of terrorism, automated filters will have to scan for ‘damage to property' and remove such posts as 'illegal' content.

So this flawed system will impact environmental activism.

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

Political content could also get digitally kettled under Ofcom's proposals (UK):

🔴 Deprioritise posts flagged as potentially 'illegal' from algorithmic feeds until reviewed.

🔴 New police powers to restrict the sharing of content during a 'crisis' that could be misused on protests.

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

Activists will feel the brunt of censorship.

The ban on Palestine Action has been used to justify the arrests of people protesting the war in Gaza or the ban itself.

Similarly, posts relating to Palestine could be censored as 'terrorist' content under Ofcom's (UK) proposals.

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

Ofcom (UK) wants to scan and scrub ‘illegal’ content from social media.

It’ll be for platforms to decide how this will be automated, leaving us clueless about what will get removed.

As algorithms are dumb to context or nuance, legal speech will get swept up in the auto-purge.

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

Ofcom risks installing a production line of political censorship under the UK Online Safety Act.

One that will knock dissent off our feeds in real time under a vague and unpredictable system.

Tell Ofcom to defend online protest! Reply by 20 October ⏰

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/online-safety-act-consultation-threat-protest-and-political-content

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

Ofcom is flexing its powers in the UK Online Safety Act to impose age verification on anyone who livestreams.

That means locking down accounts of under-18s and forcing everyone else to submit to privacy intrusive age checks.

We can't allow the Online Safety Act to ransom your privacy for free speech.

Reply to the consultation ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/online-safety-act-consultation-livestreaming-content-scanning-and-takedowns

#onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #osa #ofcom #freedomofexpression #livestreaming #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol

The limit does not exist when it comes to the UK Online Safety Act.

Ofcom is pushing at the edges of this law to age-gate livestreaming. This will prevent young content creators from engaging with audiences and put a lid on self-expression.

Find out more in our latest blog by @jim ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/online-safety-act-comes-for-livestreaming/

#onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #osa #ofcom #freedomofexpression #livestreaming #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol

Ofcom's latest proposals would mean that:

🔴 Lawful activism could be censored as it happens.
🔴 Content about Palestine may auto-delete from your feeds.
🔴 The police can clampdown on protest online.

With proactive scanning of content, political censorship under the Online Safety Act is potentially boundless.

#onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #OSA #censorship #ofcom #freedomofexpression #palestineaction #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

Terror powers to proscribe organisations like Palestine Action or Just Stop Oil will be enforced through the Online Safety Act.

As we've seen from the heavy-handed policing of protests about Palestine Action, proactive scanning will over-remove protest content as automated filters can't understand context or nuance.

#onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #OSA #censorship #ofcom #freedomofexpression #palestineaction #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

Don't let activism blink out of sight!

Ofcom (UK) wants all social posts to be scanned for 'illegal' content before they appear in our feeds.

And the AI doing it will go OTT. Posts about protest could get removed or suppressed as the UK Online Safety Act expands even further.

Say no to more censorship ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/online-safety-act-consultation-threat-protest-and-political-content

#onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #OSA #censorship #ofcom #freedomofexpression #palestineaction #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

Ofcom (UK) could disconnect livestreamers from audiences.

New age verification proposals mean anyone who doesn't prove they're over 18 will be cut off from comments, reactions, recordings or gifts on their streams.

Tell the consultation: no more censorship ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/online-safety-act-consultation-livestreaming-content-scanning-and-takedowns

#onlinesafetyact #ofcom #onlinesafety #osa #freedomofexpression #livestreaming #ukpolitics #ukpol

Hack of age verification firm may have exposed 70,000 Discord users’ ID photos

#onlinesafetyact #wtf #wetoldyouso

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/oct/09/hack-age-verification-firm-discord-users-id-photos

Oh, look, the entirely predictable consequences of age verification that everyone said would happen. Bravo for all involved with the #OnlineSafetyAct.

https://www.theverge.com/news/797051/discord-government-ids-leaked-data-breach

@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

I’ve sent the admin an email to see if they would consider unblocking just the apis needed for federation. I’m not holding out much hope though.

Cc @neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk

I have finally done some template/sample policies and processes to help small providers with the myriad paperwork obligations in the UK's Online Safety Act 2023.

Feedback, of course, is welcome:

https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk/online_safety_act_policies_and_processes/

They go hand in hand with the template/sample terms that I prepared a while back:

https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk/online_safety_act_terms/

#OnlineSafetyAct