“Like other mayors across the country, I have not asked for -– & do not need -– federal intervention,” #Portland mayor, Keith Wilson, said in a statement after #Trump’s threat. Wilson said his city had protected #FreedomOfExpression while “addressing occasional violence & property destruction.” [cause shit happens]

#law #PosseComitatusAct #democracy #RightToProtest #FreedomOfAssembly #authoritarianism #tyranny #Gestapo #AmericanAutocracy #military #USTroops #immigration #protest #resist

According to Politico, the @EUCommission is now close to publishing its final #DSA non-compliance decision against #X. But for real this time, they say. 🍿

Maybe a good moment to re-share what I just published about how #DSA and #DMA are going:

https://edri.org/our-work/why-europes-new-tech-laws-have-the-world-on-edge/

#DigitalServicesAct #DigitalMarketsAct #DigitalSovereignty #DigitalRights #FreedomOfExpression

According to Politico, the @EUCommission is now close to publishing its final #DSA non-compliance decision against #X. But for real this time, they say. 🍿

Maybe a good moment to re-share what I just published about how #DSA and #DMA are going:

https://edri.org/our-work/why-europes-new-tech-laws-have-the-world-on-edge/

#DigitalServicesAct #DigitalMarketsAct #DigitalSovereignty #DigitalRights #FreedomOfExpression

"'Me speech' is a common practice among rich and influential Americans. Practitioners of 'me speech' use the phrase 'free speech' quite a bit. But what they mean is free speech for themselves. They want a monopoly on it."

... These people suppress the freedom of speech. But because they repeat the phrase 'free speech' quite a lot, the media will often associate them with the idea."

#TimothySnyder, 2025

https://snyder.substack.com/p/free-speech-and-me-speech

#FreedomOfExpression#FreeSpeech

The UK Online Safety Act is a badly designed, overblown law that's laying waste to content online.

The government must address the threats to freedom of expression from over-moderation, not use Henry VIII powers to extend its scope.

Write to your MP ⬇️

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

#OnlineSafetyAct#OSA #onlinesafety #freespeech #freedomofexpression #ukpol #ukpolitics #censorship

The UK Online Safety Act is ballooning in scope.

Bumping up 'self-harm' content as a priority offence means these sort of posts will be stripped from social media for adults and kids.

ORG's @JamesBaker explains how this change to the law will result in therapeutic or support content being censored.

Watch now ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/gQq5ccfPvw3ibzt1EwNMuX

#OnlineSafetyAct#OSA #onlinesafety #freespeech #freedomofexpression #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol

Censorship creeps onwards 🤐

Ignoring issues with the UK Online Safety Act, the government is using Henry VIII powers to engulf more content.

Aimed at blocking 'self-harm' content, algorithms will misidentify support resources and content will vanish behind age gates.

https://www.digit.fyi/uk-gov-to-toughen-online-safety-act-against-self-harm-content/

#onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #osa #censorship #freespeech #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

Censorship creeps onwards 🤐

Ignoring issues with the UK Online Safety Act, the government is using Henry VIII powers to engulf more content.

Aimed at blocking 'self-harm' content, algorithms will misidentify support resources and content will vanish behind age gates.

https://www.digit.fyi/uk-gov-to-toughen-online-safety-act-against-self-harm-content/

#onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #osa #censorship #freespeech #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

What's 'illegal' is open to interpretation.

UK terror laws criminalise people for taking part in a proscribed group AND for expressing 'support' which is 'reckless' in getting others to support it.

Duties on platforms under the UK Online Safety Act encourage automated moderation that disproportionately affects marginalised political speech.

#PalestineAction#Palestine #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #freespeech #freedomofexpression #censorship #gaza #ukpol #ukpolitics

Platforms have a duty to mitigate the risk of 'illegal' content under the UK Online Safety Act.

Faced with unclear definitions, they'll over-moderate content about protest and Palestine solidarity.

Especially as Ofcom advises platforms they can bypass OSA duties by censoring more than is required!

#PalestineAction #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #gaza #freespeech #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #Palestine #protest

The Palestine Action ban in the UK is hitting the streets and our feeds.

Beyond mass arrests, the Online Safety Act requires social media platforms to block 'illegal' content.

This is leading to the over-censorship of content relating to Gaza and 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/

#PalestineAction #onlinesafetyact #onlinesafety #gaza #freespeech #censorship #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #Palestine #protest

Finally a response from @EUCommission Vice-President #Virkkunen on the American attacks against #democracy in Europe (unfortunately on #LinkedIn):

"The #DSA and #DMA are our sovereign legislations - Non-discriminatory, applying to all online platforms in the EU. Fully protecting our #FundamentalRights, including #FreedomOfExpression. I will keep enforcing them, for our kids, citizens and businesses."

Full letter ⬇️

Finally a response from @EUCommission Vice-President #Virkkunen on the American attacks against #democracy in Europe (unfortunately on #LinkedIn):

"The #DSA and #DMA are our sovereign legislations - Non-discriminatory, applying to all online platforms in the EU. Fully protecting our #FundamentalRights, including #FreedomOfExpression. I will keep enforcing them, for our kids, citizens and businesses."

Full letter ⬇️

The UK Online Safety Act is an unworkable mess 💩

Can it be changed? And if so, is there the political will to do it?

Instead of doubling down on more censorship, Ofcom and the government must take steps to protect freedom of expression.

ORG's Sara Chitseko and @JamesBaker discuss.

Watch now ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/qi2DNB98c1C2Ny7Kg1Zg4v

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #osa #ukpol #ukpolitics #freespeech #freeexpression #freedomofexpression #censorship #ofcom #privacy

The UK Online Safety Act is an unworkable mess 💩

Can it be changed? And if so, is there the political will to do it?

Instead of doubling down on more censorship, Ofcom and the government must take steps to protect freedom of expression.

ORG's Sara Chitseko and @JamesBaker discuss.

Watch now ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/qi2DNB98c1C2Ny7Kg1Zg4v

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #osa #ukpol #ukpolitics #freespeech #freeexpression #freedomofexpression #censorship #ofcom #privacy

Content takedowns under the UK Online Safety Act could go further ⚠️

Damaging free expression has knock-on effects. It limits what we get to know about in the public interest and how we can hold power to account.

ORG's Sara Chitseko and @JamesBaker discuss the impact on live-streaming.

Watch now ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/a34kKNvs3iyAUTSQSofwX7

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#OSA #ukpolitics #ukpol #freedomofexpression #freespeech #freeexpression #censorship #ofcom

The UK regulator Ofcom is consulting on the use of proactive tech to scan, check and remove content before people even see it.

Combined with the weak protection for free expression in the Online Safety Act, the UK public risk facing widespread censorship online.

Tell your MP it has to change ⬇️

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

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#OSA #ukpolitics #ukpol #ofcom #freespeech #freedomofexpression #freeexpression #censorship

Content takedowns under the UK Online Safety Act could go further ⚠️

Damaging free expression has knock-on effects. It limits what we get to know about in the public interest and how we can hold power to account.

ORG's Sara Chitseko and @JamesBaker discuss the impact on live-streaming.

Watch now ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/a34kKNvs3iyAUTSQSofwX7

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#OSA #ukpolitics #ukpol #freedomofexpression #freespeech #freeexpression #censorship #ofcom