Digital ID checkpoints could erupt across the Internet 🆔
The government is seeking a power grab. And it's not just social media.
Every adult will have to do ID checks to access whatever online services the government – any government – decides to restrict or curfew.
ORG's James Baker explains ⬇️
A new Ofcom investigation, this time into the provider of two online 'image board' services.
The fact of not naming the service, and the nature of duties the provider is alleged to be non-compliant in respect of, implies another low reach, high risk service.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
“There is no such thing as the Digital Age of Consent.”
My post on part of the ‘Growing up in the Online World: a national consultation’, interpreting the proposals, and ‘emergency style’ DfE govt powers.
jenpersson.com/there-is-no-...
#onlineSafety #AV #DigitalID #SocialMediaBan #AgeVerification
Download advice on feeding newborns to teens
Reminds me of Swift’s Modest Proposal.
NZ evidently determined to learn nothing from the UK car crash of regulation by regulator.
New Zealand is moving towards a comprehensive online safety regulatory framework, with a new parliamentary report setting out recommendations for government.
Amongst them:
➡️DSA-style gradated content responsibility
➡️A new independent regulator, styled on the UK's Ofcom and IE's CnaM
And concerns from an Edinburgh Napier Uni academic about why it’s not the right tool. www.create.ac.uk/blog/2026/02...
Our lot are headed in the same direction. bsky.app/profile/owen...
Having said that, I suppose they have gone this broad to cover off the Lords amendment on VPNs.
The extent to which every single one of these panics features people being shown all the previous ones – video games, TV, radio, novels – and insisting that no, no this time is *actually* different (even though the others said that too) is really approaching the Arrested Development meme levels
Shorthand for bad regulation that breeds worse regulation; plus, now, the method of doing it by taking executive powers.
A commentary from @terrorwatchdog.bsky.social terrorismlegislationreviewer.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...
Don't know about terrified, but I'm struggling to see how this cycle of dysfunctional regulation will be broken in the foreseeable future.
The bit about applicable Parliamentary procedure for regulations is at the end of each amendment.
Even the Lords amendment didn't go this far.
Either the drafters don't understand what they have done, or the government has completely lost it. Even Henry VIII would have blushed at taking powers to age-gate the entire internet.
Either the drafters don't understand what they have done, or the government has completely lost it. Even Henry VIII would have blushed at taking powers to age-gate the entire internet.
Screenshot showing part of a UK Government amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill introducing one of several new clauses for the Online Safety Act: "Power to require internet service providers to restrict access by children to certain internet services"
Meanwhile in ping-pong on the CWS Bill, the UK Government has introduced clauses empowering itself to restrict access by children to specified internet services or features publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
As @cyberleagle.bsky.social points out this isn't limited to OSA-regulated services
On the face of it, it seems to mean that e.g. any website, whether regulated under the OSA or not, could be required (by secondary legislation) to institute an age-gate, or even a usage limit or a curfew.
On the face of it, it seems to mean that e.g. any website, whether regulated under the OSA or not, could be required (by secondary legislation) to institute an age-gate, or even a usage limit or a curfew.
Have you seen the government's ping-pong amendments to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill? The scope is not even limited to OSA-regulated services. publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
Have you seen the government's ping-pong amendments to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill? The scope is not even limited to OSA-regulated services. publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
As to the role of the Delegated Powers Committee, for anyone not familiar with it. www.parliament.uk/site-informa...
I could almost feel sorry for whoever is landed with the task of drafting this. (There is, naturally, no attempt in this clause to define artificial intelligence.)
I imagine that the Delegated Powers Committee will have something to say about this; and that whatever they say will be ignored.
LORD HANSON OF FLINT 429B★_ After Clause 212, insert the following new Clause— "Power to amend Online Safety Act 2023 Power to amend Online Safety Act 2023: AI (1) The Online Safety Act 2023 is amended as follows. (2) After section 216 insert— “Power to amend Act: illegal AI-generated content etc 216A Power to amend Act in relation to illegal AI-generated content etc (1) Subject to subsection (14)(b), the Secretary of State may by regulations amend any provision of this Act for or in connection with the purposes of minimising or mitigating the risks of harm to individuals in the United Kingdom presented by— (a) illegal AI-generated content; (b) the use of AI services for the commission or facilitation of priority offences. (2) In this section, “AI service” means an internet service that is capable (or part of which is capable) of generating AI-generated content (no matter what proportion of content on the service is AI-generated). (3) The provision that may be made by regulations includes provision securing that any or all of the duties set out in subsection (4) are imposed on providers of AI services in relation to— (a) illegal AI-generated content; (b) the design, operation or use of AI services so far as relating to illegal AI-generated content; (c) the use of AI services for the commission or facilitation of priority offences.
New OSA clause: the UK Government plans to give ministers a broad power to make regulations amending the Online Safety Act re "illegal AI-generated content" and AI services etc. – without further primary legislation bills.parliament.uk/publications... (pg 12)
#genAI #censorship #openweb #techpolicy
We didn't worry too much about EU law in 1967!
Actually quite pertinent, as apart from the direct offences the real teeth of the Marine Offences Act was in cutting off their commercial support e.g. advertising. Not dissimilar to business disruption measures under the Online Safety Act.
But once and only once, I think! (Although I did have to return to it recently, blogging about the transatlantic free speech wars.)
