UK users are cut adrift from current events by the Online Safety Act.

Platforms must moderate content that’s ‘harmful’.

A term that bursts the banks of porn to submerge news, advice and debate… it’s online censorship.

Tell your MP to FIX it ⬇️

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

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#OSA #ukpolitics #ukpol #freeexpression #privacy #freespeech #censorship #freedomofexpression #digitalrights

UK users are cut adrift from current events by the Online Safety Act.

Platforms must moderate content that’s ‘harmful’.

A term that bursts the banks of porn to submerge news, advice and debate… it’s online censorship.

Tell your MP to FIX it ⬇️

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

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#OSA #ukpolitics #ukpol #freeexpression #privacy #freespeech #censorship #freedomofexpression #digitalrights

Yogthos
Cory Doctorow
¡Abbie!
Yogthos and 2 others boosted

Parts of the Internet are going dark for UK users since the Online Safety Act heaped weighty duties on platforms.

Sites are geoblocking the UK, overmoderating content, age-gating access or shutting down completely.

We need your help to track how content is being censored 🫵

Use our tool to report a site that's shutting down or restricting access to UK users as a result of the #OSA.

➡️ https://www.blocked.org.uk/osa-blocks

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #censorship #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

@saskia @iftas

In short, the problem with the Online Safety Act is that it is realistically unworkable for the average admin.

The problem with the regulations and this recommendation on your site is that the categories of prohibited content is extremely vague and could be selectively enforced based on the whims of the regulators.

For example, as a US citizen would the following statement be banned on UK systems?

"As a citizen of the USA I recommend everyone in the UK take to the streets and yell at their PM to allow speech about using picket knives for harvesting medical marijuana used for epilepsy treatment; medical treatment that should be available to all epilepsy patients."

That statement could fall under Foreign Interference, harassment, knives, and drugs, malinformation / misinformation.

Is my statement harmful to children through 16 year olds?

#OnlineSafetyAct#OSA #fediverse #mastodon #comliance.

Parts of the Internet are going dark for UK users since the Online Safety Act heaped weighty duties on platforms.

Sites are geoblocking the UK, overmoderating content, age-gating access or shutting down completely.

We need your help to track how content is being censored 🫵

Use our tool to report a site that's shutting down or restricting access to UK users as a result of the #OSA.

➡️ https://www.blocked.org.uk/osa-blocks

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #censorship #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

@openrightsgroup Is it known how sites are targeted using the #OSA – manually, automated with AI, something else?

Parts of the Internet are going dark for UK users since the Online Safety Act heaped weighty duties on platforms.

Sites are geoblocking the UK, overmoderating content, age-gating access or shutting down completely.

We need your help to track how content is being censored 🫵

Use our tool to report a site that's shutting down or restricting access to UK users as a result of the #OSA.

➡️ https://www.blocked.org.uk/osa-blocks

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety #censorship #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

“The [UK] Online Safety Act risks silencing a generation."

It's “a fundamental encroachment on the right to freedom of expression to impart and receive information. Older teenagers engaging with political debates or current events may be cut off from vital sources of information because platforms will err on the side of removal to avoid hefty penalties.”

🗣️ ORG's @JamesBaker

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2089661/online-safety-law-watchdog

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#OSA #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

Algorithms will hyperactively dredge feeds of what's 'illegal' and 'harmful'.

Both terms are wishy washy in the UK Online Safety Act.

So platforms will over-moderate rather than get hit with penalties for a finger in the air judgement. Censorship is baked into the equation, and that's why the OSA threatens free expression.

Tell your MP to FIX IT ⬇️

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

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#OSA #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol #freeexpression #privacy #agegate #ageverification

“The [UK] Online Safety Act risks silencing a generation."

It's “a fundamental encroachment on the right to freedom of expression to impart and receive information. Older teenagers engaging with political debates or current events may be cut off from vital sources of information because platforms will err on the side of removal to avoid hefty penalties.”

🗣️ ORG's @JamesBaker

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2089661/online-safety-law-watchdog

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#OSA #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

Algorithms will hyperactively dredge feeds of what's 'illegal' and 'harmful'.

Both terms are wishy washy in the UK Online Safety Act.

So platforms will over-moderate rather than get hit with penalties for a finger in the air judgement. Censorship is baked into the equation, and that's why the OSA threatens free expression.

Tell your MP to FIX IT ⬇️

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

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#OSA #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol #freeexpression #privacy #agegate #ageverification

“The [UK] Online Safety Act risks silencing a generation."

It's “a fundamental encroachment on the right to freedom of expression to impart and receive information. Older teenagers engaging with political debates or current events may be cut off from vital sources of information because platforms will err on the side of removal to avoid hefty penalties.”

🗣️ ORG's @JamesBaker

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2089661/online-safety-law-watchdog

#OnlineSafetyAct #onlinesafety#OSA #freespeech #ukpolitics #ukpol

Palestine Action ban + UK Online Safety Act = widespread censorship of content about Palestine 🚫

Lawful posts could be swept up by overly broad definitions of terrorism and wrongly removed by platforms. It's a serious attack on freedom of expression and the right to protest in the UK.

Read our open letter from human rights groups and experts ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/human-rights-defenders-raise-concerns-that-online-safety-act-will-lead-to-censorship-of-palestine-protest/

#onlinesafetyact #freeexpression #palestine #gaza #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #ofcom #pastineaction #freespeech

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.

Ofcom even advises them they can bypass duties by censoring more than is required!

#onlinesafetyact #freeexpression #palestine #gaza #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol #ofcom #pastineaction #freespeech#OSA

Strypey
Strypey boosted

Age verification has overextended itself 🚨

UK users are coerced into giving sensitive data to many unregulated providers under the threat of wide-ranging censorship.

It’s an open goal for cybercriminals 🤬

Tell your MP (UK) the Online Safety Act isn’t working ⬇️

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

#OnlineSafetyAct #privacy #ageverification #onlinesafety#OSA #ukpol #ukpolitics #freeexpression #censorship #freedomofexpression #freespeech

HEATHER BURNS ON THE OSA

“The text of the law literally says you are a child until you can prove otherwise,” she explained. “Your site is riddled with [dangerous content] until you can prove otherwise.

“I think any resolution has to start with flipping that on its head … The presumption of guilt before innocence, and the presumption of active complicity in the worst horrors of mankind, needs to go.”

https://www.thenational.scot/news/25354060.tech-expert-called-paedo-home-office-meeting-online-safety-act/

#OnlineSafetyAct#OSA#Labour#Privacy#Security#Censorship