@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
19h ago
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
🚨 First the social media ban, now the UK government wants to restrict VPNs 🚨
VPNs are a vital cybersecurity tool for businesses, politicians, journalists and families to protect data and communications.
Banning or requiring digital ID checks before buying VPNs would increase cybercrime risks and expose IP addresses to predators.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2217934/vpn-ban-table-july-labour
#vpn #socialmediaban #ageverification #ukpolitics #cybersecurity #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol
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@jim@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
3d ago
The social media policy ratchet:
How #onlinesafety measures are costing users but leaving #socialmedia companies just fine thank you.
https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/the-social-media-policy-ratchet/
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
2d ago
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
“Soon it will be virtually impossible to be online in the UK without handing over identity documents or biometric data to unregulated companies.”
The social media ban means EVERY user has to prove they're over 16. This puts millions at risk of their personal data being hacked.
🗣️ ORG's @JamesBaker@social.openrightsgroup.org.
https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366644294/Big-tech-must-introduce-age-checks-to-support-UKs-under-16s-social-media-ban
#stopKillingInternet #StopKillingTheInternet #socialmediaban #socialmedia #ageverification #onlinesafety #privacy #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
3d ago
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
Social media bans don't work.
Yet it's happening globally as leaders try to grab headlines with creeping digital ID checks.
This doesn't take on how platforms are designed to capture users' attention with harmful content through data-driven algorithms so they can sell ads.
ORG's @JamesBaker@social.openrightsgroup.org explains ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/bBTjPwubE92HMVGtt9dN2Z
#stopKillingInternet #socialmediaban #socialmedia #onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #privacy #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol #kierstarmer
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
3d ago
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
A global movement to #stopKillingInternet is coming.
Bans will wall off the open Internet. Kids locked out and adults pushed through digital ID checks.
Connection and access to information is being swept away for a policy that leaves platforms free to continue promoting harmful content for profit.
Find out more ➡️ https://www.stopkillingtheinternet.com/
#socialmediaban #socialmedia #onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #privacy #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol #kierstarmer
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
3d ago
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
"Every failed attempt to make children safer online is followed by more surveillance and censorship.
Children have rights too and these policies will harm their free expression and privacy rights, and push them into less regulated spaces."
🗣️ ORG's James Baker on the under-16s social media ban.
https://www.theregister.com/personal-tech/2026/06/15/britain-plots-digital-bedtime-after-kicking-under-16s-off-social-media/5255341
#socialmediaban #ukpol #onlinesafety #stopKillingInternet #ukpolitics
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
3d ago
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
A social media ban won't fix online harms.
That's because the business model creating them is left untouched.
It just makes every user do an ID check to prove they’re over 16.
Instead we should tackle the attention capture economy of targeted ads and personalised algorithms.
Sign our petition ⬇️
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/break-big-tech
#socialmediaban #onlinesafety #socialmedia #stopKillingInternet #ukpol #ukpolitics #privacy #censorship #bigtech
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
3d ago
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
The UK social media ban for under-16s does nothing to sort out the harms caused by platforms.
Harmful content is a product of a business model that uses data to drive engagement and target users with ads.
Digital ID checks feed more data into this system, while leaving the engine for harms unchecked.
Read our response ⬇️
https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/starmers-social-media-ban-fails-to-address-root-causes-of-online-harms/
#socialmediaban #socialmedia #starmer #stopkillinginternet #ukpolitics #ukpol #onlinesafety #ageverification #digitalid #privacy #censorship
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
May 26, 2026
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
🚨 LAST CHANCE 🚨
The UK government's online safety consultation closes TODAY.
We must push back against more and more online ID checks. Making every adult hand over sensitive data to unregulated providers is itself UNSAFE.
Let's take on Big Tech business models instead!
Have your say ➡️ https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation
#onlinesafety #privacy #ageverification #bigtech #digitalID #ukpolitics #ukpol
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
May 25, 2026
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
1 DAY TO GO ⏰️
💭 Tell the UK government to rethink online safety.
❌️ Creating a privacy timebomb with surveillance-based information blockades isn't the way.
✅️ We need user choice and better platform design, NOT mandatory ID checks.
Have your say on a better way by 26 May ➡️ https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation
#onlinesafety #ageverification #digitalID #privacy #interoperability #bigtech #ukpolitics #ukpol
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
May 24, 2026
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
We're paying a huge price for a policy that doesn't work.
People adapt what they do online when parts of the Internet are put behind intrusive ID checks.
Why carry on like this when young Australians have found ways to bypass the social media ban?
Have your say by 26 May in the UK consultation ➡️ https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation
#onlinesafety #privacy #ageverification #digitalID #digitalrights #socialmediaban #ukpolitics #ukpol
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@MxVerda@lgbtqia.space
·
May 17, 2026
Mx Verda
@MxVerda@lgbtqia.space
I do art, games, and ranting. #OortArtCloud https://positive.news has good stuff. I care about people. I hate Long Covid. Wear your respirator properly. https://omnimask.com and https://teenvogue.com I’m AuHD. I often phrase things in ways people don’t expect. (Apparently.) Brits assume I’m white american, but I’m also latinx / latine. Make of it what you will. Pfp is curly green hair. Banner is drawing of UK road intersection. NSFW https://subscribestar.adult/mxverde #vNSFW
lgbtqia.space
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@MxVerda@lgbtqia.space
·
May 17, 2026
Mx Verda
@MxVerda@lgbtqia.space
I do art, games, and ranting. #OortArtCloud https://positive.news has good stuff. I care about people. I hate Long Covid. Wear your respirator properly. https://omnimask.com and https://teenvogue.com I’m AuHD. I often phrase things in ways people don’t expect. (Apparently.) Brits assume I’m white american, but I’m also latinx / latine. Make of it what you will. Pfp is curly green hair. Banner is drawing of UK road intersection. NSFW https://subscribestar.adult/mxverde #vNSFW
lgbtqia.space
@ people with kids, wards, young people, duty of care, friends of, family of, neighbours of, and whatever else:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation
#UK #UnitedKingdom #OnlineSafetyAct #SnoopersCharter #OnlineSafety #internet #DigitalID #Age #AgeVerification
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@MxVerda@lgbtqia.space
·
May 17, 2026
Mx Verda
@MxVerda@lgbtqia.space
I do art, games, and ranting. #OortArtCloud https://positive.news has good stuff. I care about people. I hate Long Covid. Wear your respirator properly. https://omnimask.com and https://teenvogue.com I’m AuHD. I often phrase things in ways people don’t expect. (Apparently.) Brits assume I’m white american, but I’m also latinx / latine. Make of it what you will. Pfp is curly green hair. Banner is drawing of UK road intersection. NSFW https://subscribestar.adult/mxverde #vNSFW
lgbtqia.space
" we need to consider whether additional measures could build on our existing approach and ensure the UK remains the safest place for children to be online.
[...]
What happens next
This consultation will close on the 26 May 2026. The government has committed to taking swift action on its findings. On 16 February 2026, the Prime Minister announced new legal powers to allow the government to act swiftly after the consultation response, without waiting for new primary legislation. We will publish our response in summer 2026. "
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation
#UK #UnitedKingdom #OnlineSafetyAct #SnoopersCharter #OnlineSafety #internet #DigitalID #Age #AgeVerification
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
May 06, 2026
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
"Expanding age verification will entrench the dominance of large tech companies and harm small and volunteer-run services who may not be able to afford to comply.”
The UK must address structural causes of online harms like "surveillance-driven advertising models and the dominance of a small number of Big Tech platforms."
🗣️ ORG's @JamesBaker@social.openrightsgroup.org on the statement from 19 organisations.
https://www.neowin.net/news/tech-giants-and-civil-rights-groups-warn-uks-age-verification-plan-threatens-the-open-web/
#ageverification #onlinesafety #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
May 05, 2026
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
UK policymakers need to rethink online safety laws.
A new joint statement warns that age-gating and access restrictions threaten to fragment the open Internet and erode the rights of all users.
Read more about the statement from 19 organisations including ORG, Mozilla and @torproject@mastodon.social ⬇️
https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/companies-and-civil-society-warn-that-uk-is-undermining-open-web/
#onlinesafety #ageverification #privacy #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol
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@TestAndAnalysis@mastodonapp.uk
·
Mar 31, 2026
Mike Harris
@TestAndAnalysis@mastodonapp.uk
Deming Driven Tester Vice-Chair at SIGiST & Chartered Fellow at the British Computer Society All opinions expressed are my own. he/him
mastodonapp.uk
Last night I had an interesting evening with the winners of the BCS Lovelace and Society Medals.
Blogged: AI, Education and Online Safety - An audience with BCS Lovelace and Society Medal winners
#AI #CompSci #OnlineSafety
https://testandanalysis.home.blog/2026/03/31/ai-education-and-online-safety-an-audience-with-bcs-lovelace-and-society-medal-winners/
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@lamplark@mastodonapp.uk
·
Mar 26, 2026
Lamplark
@lamplark@mastodonapp.uk
London based educators: Passionate about online safety, digital inclusion and community education. Celebrating and serving this wonderful city’s diverse communities. - Julie is tooting for Lamplark. Interests: #OnlineSafety #DigitalInclusion #DigitalLiteracy #Accessibility #elearning #EducationTech #EdTech #ALTC #Education #AdultLearning #HigherEducation #London #UK #fedi23
mastodonapp.uk
Staying safe online: How to keep your data safe when using public wi-fi – 8 quick tips ➜ https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-to-keep-your-data-safe-when-using-public-wi-fi-aZKdQ4L8sKI9
#StaySafeOnline #OnlineSafety
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
Mar 26, 2026
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
An LA Court's ruling on Meta and Google exposes the real causes of online harms.
Engagement-driven design and data-fuelled advertising business models put people at risk.
Yet the UK government's approach to online safety has focussed on keeping kids out and locking adults in to toxic platforms.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/mar/25/jury-verdict-us-first-social-media-addiction-trial-meta-youtube
#onlinesafety #meta #google #youtube #bigtech #socialmedia #ukpolitics #ukpol #BreakBigTech
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@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
·
Mar 09, 2026
Open Rights Group
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org
We fight for digital rights (UK). Join us. #privacy #freespeech #surveillance #censorship #dataprotection
social.openrightsgroup.org
“When you create a law, you have to think about what a future government could do with those powers."
Ministers would have unilateral powers to lock what they see as 'harmful' behind digital ID checks.
This could end up being used on LGBTQ+ and reproductive health content.
🗣️ ORG's James Baker.
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-eyes-sweeping-powers-to-regulate-tech-without-parliamentary-scrutiny/
#onlinesafety #digitalid #privacy #freedomofexpression #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol
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