Online harms are driven by platform design and business models. A blanket ban on young people doesn't fix this.

We need:

⚫ Interoperability to promote competition over standards.
⚫ Greater user control over feeds and content moderation.
⚫ Strong enforcement of data protection laws for children.
⚫ Limits on profiling and targeted advertising, and greater transparency around how user data is used on platforms.

#socialmedia #uk #socialmediaban #privacy #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

A version of the U16s ban is already being debated in the UK House of Lords as an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

This goes beyond social media to include social functions of online games, WhatsApp and Wikipedia.

Shutting young people out of digital public spaces, rather than building ones that work for them is not protection. It is exclusion.

#socialmedia #uk #socialmediaban #privacy #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

"For all the US' problems, this could never have happened in the US. Because of their First Amendment rights. But in our [UK] system, Parliament is sovereign, and it can basically do what it likes."

#LewisGoodall, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsNRFTfK0fw

... and the same is true of the NZ Parliament.

#podcasts #BoldPolitics #Bold #ZackPolanski #FreedomOfExpression #FirstAmendment

A version of the U16s ban is already being debated in the UK House of Lords as an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

This goes beyond social media to include social functions of online games, WhatsApp and Wikipedia.

Shutting young people out of digital public spaces, rather than building ones that work for them is not protection. It is exclusion.

#socialmedia #uk #socialmediaban #privacy #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

Online harms are driven by platform design and business models. A blanket ban on young people doesn't fix this.

We need:

⚫ Interoperability to promote competition over standards.
⚫ Greater user control over feeds and content moderation.
⚫ Strong enforcement of data protection laws for children.
⚫ Limits on profiling and targeted advertising, and greater transparency around how user data is used on platforms.

#socialmedia #uk #socialmediaban #privacy #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

Give yourself the gift that keeps on giving this Xmas 🎄

Subscribe to ORG's newsletter!

We'll keep you updated on everything that's going on with your digital rights in the UK. From campaign updates to events and how to get involved, we've got you covered.

Sign up now ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/sign-up-for-org-email-updates

#DigitalRights #humanrights #privacy #dataprotection #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #newsletter

Aaaand that's a wrap on 2025 🙃

From eVisas and crime-predicting tech to Stalker Ads and the UK Online Safety Act, ORG has fought for digital rights all the way.

With Digital ID, encryption battles and more ahead, it's time for a recap.

Check out #ORG2025 ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/org-end-of-year-review-2025/

#digitalrights #privacy #freedomofexpression #dataprotection #surveillance #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol

Aaaand that's a wrap on 2025 🙃

From eVisas and crime-predicting tech to Stalker Ads and the UK Online Safety Act, ORG has fought for digital rights all the way.

With Digital ID, encryption battles and more ahead, it's time for a recap.

Check out #ORG2025 ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/org-end-of-year-review-2025/

#digitalrights #privacy #freedomofexpression #dataprotection #surveillance #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol

Give yourself the gift that keeps on giving this Xmas 🎄

Subscribe to ORG's newsletter!

We'll keep you updated on everything that's going on with your digital rights in the UK. From campaign updates to events and how to get involved, we've got you covered.

Sign up now ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/sign-up-for-org-email-updates

#DigitalRights #humanrights #privacy #dataprotection #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #newsletter