Please share & sign this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/762236

We have an opportunity to tell them NO to age verification for all user-user services!

#ukpol
#uk
#onlinesafetyact
#ageverification
#OSA
#privacy

@openrightsgroup
@JamesBaker
@neil

Welcome to OnlineSafetyVille (2026 edition). Now with bonus extraterritoriality. #OnlineSafetyAct

I swear, please, if you are writing about Apple's new age verification stuff in iOS, please do not say that it is there to comply with the #OnlineSafetyAct.

The OSA applies to user-to-user and search services. iOS isn't a service that comes within the remit of the OSA, nor are (as far as I can tell) pretty much anything an Apple account is used for.

They may be trying to pre-emptively comply with other laws (such as California's AB-1043), but the OSA does not require OS-level age verification.

A propos of nothing.

I am now (un)officially under-18! Updated #iPhone. Tried to register the new age verification reqs as part of #OnlineSafetyAct but #Apple ONLY permits driver's licence or credit card, (not passports). I have neither. 1hr with Apple Support - no possible solutions other than get driver's licence / credit card (or buy a National ID card).
So now, no Apple Pay, ITVX, iPlayer, gaming apps or much else until Apple change their verification criteria.
Oh well!
#tech #technews

@nixCraft luckily they're not bothered about the UK #OnlineSafetyAct and still have a forum

Just heard back from the #OnlineSafetyAct survey folks: they'd also like to hear from people who run informal/volunteer community sites. Anyone who runs a Mastodon instance, Pixelfed server, PHPBB forum, etc. and has any UK users.

If you'd like me to put you in touch with the survey group, feel free to DM me, or email aphyr@aphyr.com, with your name, email, and the site you run. I'll pass that on to Serrula Research, which is running the survey for Ofcom.

Ofcom is undertaking a paid survey for people who work for companies in scope of the UK #OnlineSafetyAct. If any of y'all are running Mastodon/Akkoma/Pixelfed/etc servers and have some kind of legal entity for doing so, drop me a line and I'll make an introduction.

I'm gonna ask if that's *just* companies or if any community forum counts.

Ending online harms isn't a game of whack-a-mole.

The only way is to bust the business model that rewards harmful results.

Nothing changes until we break the spell that keeps us on platforms; the harvesting of our data to maximise engagement and fuel advertising.

We need to get off the regulatory treadmill and #BreakBigTech.

Sign the petition ⬇️

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/break-big-tech

#OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #bigtech #meta #x #musk #zuckerberg #ukpolitics #ukpol

These duties on platforms are excessive considering the Palestine Action ban is unlawful.

It leads to the removal of Palestine solidarity posts and exposes people to surveillance or even criminalisation for engaging with content that references non-violent direct action.

We must hear from Ofcom (UK).

#PalestineAction #palestine #gaza #ofcom #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

🔴 Police emergency takedown powers

During a designated ‘crisis,’ police will have direct lines to platforms to demand immediate content removal.

Without independent oversight, live protest footage and dissenting political voices could be silenced in real time.

#PalestineAction #palestine #gaza #ofcom #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

🔴 Algorithmic suppression

Recommender systems will have to de-prioritise content that might be 'illegal' until it's reviewed.

This is supposed to stop the spread of extremist content, but it could mean lawful activism and protest footage is hidden from feeds – even if it breaks no rules.

#PalestineAction #palestine #gaza #ofcom #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

🔴 Pre-publication scanning

Platforms will have to scan posts and files being shared for ‘illegal’ content and remove it before it’s even published.

Automated filters can’t understand context or nuance – legitimate political content about Palestine (and more) could be removed before anyone sees it.

#PalestineAction #palestine #gaza #ofcom #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

At present, content supportive of Palestine Action must be removed when a platform finds it or it's reported.

There's no independent appeal process and Ofcom (UK) has encouraged platforms to adopt ‘bypass strategies’.

This means censoring content beyond what's required to avoid regulatory scrutiny.

#PalestineAction #palestine #gaza #ofcom #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

The threat to Palestine-related political content could be made worse by new Online Safety powers in the UK.

Ofcom's consultation included plans to restrict livestreaming, proactive scanning for illegal content and algorithmic suppression.

These may come into effect before the government’s appeal is heard.

#PalestineAction #palestine #gaza #ofcom #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

We've called on Ofcom to clear up confusion following the ruling that the Palestine Action ban is unlawful.

We need to know what platforms are expected to do about their duty to remove 'terrorist' content under the UK Online Safety Act and how new duties will be applied.

Read our open letter ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/palestine-action-ruling-human-rights-organisations-call-for-ofcom-to-issue-guidance-on-content-takedowns/

#PalestineAction #palestine #gaza #ofcom #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

My responses to the "Growing up in the online world" consultation.

https://foxdog.blog/blog/uk-social-media-consultation/

#OnlineSafetyAct

The UK High Court found the proscription to be a “very significant interference” with freedom of speech. The same is true online.

Yet, while the government appeals the decision, the ban on Palestine Action stays in place.

Ofcom must provide immediate guidance to ensure public debate isn't censored.

#PalestineAction #palestine #ofcom #censorship #freedomofexpression #OnlineSafetyAct #ukpolitics #ukpol

Last year, ORG warned that duties in the Online Safety Act combined with the UK’s vague definition of terrorism meant content would be wrongly identified as illegal and removed.

These duties make it impossible for platforms to balance free expression rights, as they require blanket action.

#PalestineAction #palestine #ofcom #censorship #freedomofexpression #OnlineSafetyAct #ukpolitics #ukpol

The proscription of Palestine Action in the UK has been found unlawful. So what now for content takedowns?

Ofcom must urgently make it clear what platforms are expected to do under their duty to remove 'terrorist' posts and stop censorship.

Read about our open letter ⬇️

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/ofcom-urged-clarify-palestine-action-content-removed-online

#PalestineAction #palestine #ofcom #censorship #freedomofexpression #OnlineSafetyAct #ukpolitics #ukpol

"British politicians and authorities are working intensively to escalate #censorship and mass #surveillance. In just the past year alone, they have attempted to force Apple to (secretly) install backdoors in its end-to-end encrypted cloud service; censorship has been introduced with the #OnlineSafetyAct; proposals for client-side scanning and government spyware on all UK phones..."

#UKPol

https://mullvad.net/en/and-then/uk

Jesus, the entire #OnlineSafetyAct regime barely scratches “big tech” but causes innumerable headaches for small website operators. That’s the entire point.

If you want to hurt “big tech”, go after their cash money. Enforce competition law. Enforce really strong privacy laws. That hurts them far more than age verification nonsense or getting irate about 15-year-olds watching too much TikTok.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdr2gm4y4ygo

The approach to online safety is flawed.

We need a rights-based approach that challenges the dominance of Big Tech, not one that embeds permanent monitoring by requiring ID to access information and services.

Tell your MP to fix the UK Online Safety Act ⬇️

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

#onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #bigtech #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

Lob off one head, two more appear.

This is because online harms are an emergent property of the domination of Big Tech.

Attention capture revs the engine of targeted advertising that powers the beast.

New rules from age gating to content scanning are directed at the user, not the business model.

#onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #bigtech #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

Design interventions alone can't significantly improve safety if the market rewards behaviours and outcomes that generate harm.

Large companies can absorb the cost of new rules. Smaller services often can't.

This reduces competition and locks people into dominant platforms that feed off its users.

#onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #bigtech #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

Age verification makes people create profiles on platforms.

For porn sites, this means tying a specific user to algorithmic profiles. It enables customised porn feeds that are designed to keep them on the platform for longer.

It also exposes people more to data breaches and advertising networks.

#onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #bigtech #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

Proposals to expand age checks to VPNs and features like infinite-scrolling for UK users makes things worse.

The result is more personal data swilling around in tech firms and a permanent expansion of tracking infrastructure.

For VPNs, we're told to discard privacy for supposed 'safety'.

It makes no sense.

#onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #bigtech #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol. #vpn

The UK government is fattening the power of Big Tech, giving them greater control over our data.

With Palantir's Peter Thiel involved in age verification, we can't ignore how surveillance tech moves between military, intelligence and commercial markets.

Read more ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/roblox-reddit-and-discord-users-compelled-to-use-biometric-id-system-backed-by-palantir-co-founder-peter-thiel/

#onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #bigtech #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol #palantir

Trying to fix a broken system by tinkering won't achieve online safety.

The issue? The Internet is centralised in the hands of a few tech behemoths.

Simply adding new rules while harms evolve around them is a losing battle.

We must build something better.

Read our latest blog ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/online-safety-needs-structural-change-not-more-layers-of-control/

#onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #bigtech #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

We have no choice, no voice over a privacy intrusive system that's being embedded into everyday Internet use.

It's the platforms that decide on the age verificationprovider.

Users are unaware of the investors behind these companies or the links to wider surveillance, online advertising and intelligence networks.

#ageverification #privacy #dataprotection #bigtech #onlinesafetyact #ukpolitics #ukpol #socialmedia

The UK government risks creating a new layer of digital infrastructure that concentrates power over identity, biometrics and access to public life in the hands of private companies.

Age gating VPNs, AI Chat bots, or features like infinitive scrolling would expand the reach of age verification.

#ageverification #privacy #dataprotection #bigtech #onlinesafetyact #ukpolitics #ukpol #vpn #socialmedia

The UK government is playing whack-a-mole with online safety.

Plans to further age-gate the Internet dodges the real issue – the power of Big Tech.

Failing to regulate AI and the age verification industry puts the rights of users in peril.

Read our response ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/online-harms-millions-could-be-forced-to-use-unregulated-age-verification/

#ageverification #privacy #dataprotection #bigtech #onlinesafetyact #ukpolitics #ukpol #socialmedia

Thank you, #OnlineSafetyAct for failing to regulate #AgeVerification in any way at all. Now Discord users must hand their data to a Peter-Thiel-of-Palantir-linked system.

https://www.pcgamer.com/software/platforms/oh-good-discords-age-verification-rollout-has-ties-to-palantir-co-founder-and-panopticon-architect-peter-thiel/

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