I will need to see the actual notices, and their reasoning, to see how far the ICO considers that this extends.

A double-whammy of #AgeVerification expectations under both the UK #OnlineSafetyAct and data protection frameworks?

I will be interested to see what made "consent" the only available lawful basis for the processing.

“The UK war on VPNs is an embarrassment” | Jimmy Wales
https://alecmuffett.com/article/143312
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #vpns

Hidden within the UK Online Safety Act is the spy clause that threatens encryption on messaging apps.

As ORG's James Baker says, Ofcom "may be waiting to see what happens in Europe with the Chat Control proposal, because it’s quite hard for the UK to go alone.”

We spoke to Computer Weekly about some of the privacy threats coming up in 2026 ⬇️

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366636751/Privacy-will-be-under-unprecedented-attack-in-2026

#e2ee #encryption #ofcom #onlinesafetyact #ukpolitics #ukpol

According to Newsnight, the UK government say they can't block X—despite the deepfake CSAM—because people could evade such a ban using VPNs.

But the #OnlineSafetyAct is working just fine even though people can use VPNs to avoid having to upload photos of their passport (etc.) to some shady unregulated age verification company.

The UK government's internet policies are totally rational and coherent. Nothing to see here. Please don't ask us any more annoying critical questions.

RE: https://cyberplace.social/@GossiTheDog/115826683070912702

The UK government’s official internet policy:

1. if you run a web forum or fedi instance, you need to do a bunch of paperwork to comply with the #OnlineSafetyAct to protect the kids.

2. if you are rich and run a neo-nazi website with officially posted virtual CSAM, politicians won’t leave despite that being a million times worse than anything you’d read on a forum about fixed gear cycling or a mastodon server run by some queer furries running arch for their polycule.

Incredibly coherent.

ORG spoke out against criminalising free expression under the UK Prevent Duty.

An expanding definition of terrorism threatens racialised communities who are disproportionately targeted by a programme that hides surveillance behind safeguarding.

Read more ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/prevent-duty-redefining-terrorism-in-the-wake-of-southport-attacks/

#ORG2025 #digitalrights #OnlineSafetyAct #PalestineAction #freedomofexpression #protest #ukpolitics #ukpol #Prevent

ORG warned that lawful posts about Palestine could be wrongly removed in light of the ban on Palestine Action and overly broad definitions of terrorism.

The UK Online Safety Act must not be a vehicle to suppress political 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/

#ORG2025 #digitalrights #OnlineSafetyAct #PalestineAction #freedomofexpression #protest #ukpolitics #ukpol

Political protest came under attack during 2025 🤐

ORG raised the alarm that platforms could be pushed to suppress critical voices, journalism and social movements according to their duty to remove 'illegal' content under the UK Online Safety Act.

Find out more ➡️ https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/banning-palestine-action-how-the-uk-government-is-silencing-dissent/

#ORG2025 #digitalrights #OnlineSafetyAct #PalestineAction #freedomofexpression #protest #ukpolitics #ukpol

Alt...

Text: Protecting Political Protest – ORG warned that the Online Safety Act combined with the ban on Palestine Action would lead to the censorship of protest. Image: Green and pink textured abstract background.

The UK Online Safety Act does nothing to challenge the dominance of Big Tech.

Government needs to use competition powers so we can choose moderation engines and switch social media provider without losing our networks.

Read our interoperability report ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/publications/making-platforms-accountable-empowering-users-and-creating-safety/

#ORG2025 #digitalrights #OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #fediverse

ORG warned the UK Parliament that VPNs must not face the chop.

Banning or age-gating VPNs will shatter security and free expression in a self-defeating attempt to make the unworkable workable by playing into the hands predators online.

Read more ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/new-briefing-warns-against-restricting-vpns/

#ORG2025 #digitalrights #OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #vpn

Small sites have been hit with onerous duties under the UK Online Safety Act. Many have shut down or geo-blocked the UK.

ORG published a guide through the regulatory maze of duties placed on online service providers by the Act and Ofcom.

Read more ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/publications/online-safety-act-a-guide-for-organisations-working-with-the-act/

#ORG2025 #digitalrights #OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

The UK Online Safety Act is badly designed.

ORG published a report setting out a rights-based approach to fix it.

One that limits the scope of the Act to minimise threats to free expression, our privacy rights and small sites.

Read more ⬇️

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

#ORG2025 #digitalrights #OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

People have been forced to hand over personal data to unregulated age-verification companies to access content and app features way beyond porn.

The UK Online Safety Act put in place no regulatory standards for privacy or security.

We called for regulation ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/online-safety-act-org-calls-for-regulation-of-age-assurance-industry/

#ORG2025 #digitalrights #OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

With vague definitions and hefty penalties, the UK Online Safety Act encourages the over-moderation of content.

ORG joined with civil society groups to warn Parliament that things need to change if we're to protect freedom of expression online.

Read more ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/publications/joint-briefing-petition-debate-on-repealing-the-online-safety-act/

#ORG2025 #digitalrights #OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

It wouldn't have been 2025 without the UK Online Safety Act hitting the fan 🫥

Whether it's fighting for age verification providers to be regulated or for a rights-based approach to fix the Act, ORG has followed every twist and turn.

Find out more ➡️ https://www.openrightsgroup.org/campaign/stop-state-censorship-of-online-speech/

#ORG2025 #digitalrights #OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #OSA #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

Alt...

Text: Fixing the Online Safety Act – ORG detailed how to improve the Act and we led the call for the regulation of age verification providers. Image: Green and pink textured abstract background.

New blogpost: "A proposed legislative amendment to attempt to ban under 16s in the UK from common messaging services, sharing family photos, using Wikipedia, and doing much else online, by imposing age assurance on everyone"

I'd have my head in my hands, if that didn't make typing rather tricky.

Read and despair (and don't forget to like and subscribe), fellow Internet people.

https://decoded.legal/blog/2025/12/a-proposed-legislative-amendment-to-attempt-to-ban-under-16s-in-the-uk-from-common-messaging-services-sharing-family-photos-using-wikipedia-and-doing-much-else-online-by-imposing-age-assurance-on-everyone/

#OnlineSafetyAct

Not a single person in this debate has mentioned the responsibility of parents to control what their kids do online. Not one. #OnlineSafetyAct

The UK Online Safety Act is a mess. MPs are debating the petition for its repeal now.

ORG calls for a rights-based approach:

Limit its scope to minimise threats to freedom of expression/small sites, and regulate age verification providers to protect privacy.

Read our briefing ⬇️

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

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

ORG is asking the UK Government, ICO and Ofcom to establish compulsory privacy and security standards for age verification providers to ensure that users’ sensitive data is protected.

Tell your MP to attend the Online Safety Act debate on 15 December ⬇️

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

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #osa #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

“Platforms choose which [age verification] provider to use, and the public has to hope they can be trusted.”

They have an incentive to choose cheaper and less secure vendors, mainly located in the US, with varying data protection standards.

This can't continue. We need regulation now!

🗣️ @JamesBaker for ORG.

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #osa #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

Age verification goes beyond porn. It includes social media, streaming, dating apps and gaming.

Millions of UK users have to trade their sensitive data to access information, services or support online.

We compromise our identity with no regulatory standards for privacy or security.

We say no!

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #osa #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

The UK Online Safety Act ushered in an age verification market without regulating providers.

Our open letter calls for this to be corrected ahead of tomorrow's debate.

We're supported by the Age Verification Providers Association and 600+ members of the public.

Read more ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/online-safety-act-org-calls-for-regulation-of-age-assurance-industry/

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #osa #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

The UK Online Safety Act returns to Parliament.

It's enabled iffy age-assurance providers, wrongly censored content and shuttered small sites while doing nothing to tackle the dominance of major platforms.

Tell your MP to attend the debate on 15 December ⬇️

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

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

Over 550,000 people signed the petition against the UK Online Safety Act.

This is one of the largest public expressions of concern about a UK digital law in recent history.

We need you to tell your MP why they need to attend the debate on 15 December ⬇️

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

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

The UK Online Safety Act affects freedom of expression.

Its hefty requirements risk undermining the ability of small, non-profit and public-interest websites to operate.

Read the joint briefing from ORG, Big Brother Watch, @eff and Index on Censorship ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/publications/joint-briefing-petition-debate-on-repealing-the-online-safety-act/

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

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