15 h. ago UK traffic to popular porn sites slumps after age checks introduced

Figures from digital data company show effect of strict rules brought in last month under Online Safety ActBritish visits to popular pornography sites have slumped following the introduction of strict age checks last month, data shows.Daily visits to Pornhub, the UK’s most used porn site, fell from 3.6m on 24 July, the day before age-gating was introduced, to 1.9m on 8 August, a drop of 47%. Continue reading...

Politics

34 h. ago UK porn site traffic plunges as age verification rules take effect

Pornhub loses more than 1mn visitors in two weeks after Online Safety Act comes into force

Politics

39 h. ago UK porn site traffic plunges as age verification rules take effect

Pornhub loses more than 1mn visitors in two weeks after Online Safety Act comes into force

Politics

69 h. ago Wikipedia loses court challenge against Online Safety Act rules

The action sought to exempt the platform from new regulations

Events

3 d. ago Voices: The overzealous Online Safety Act means showing ID to get a pizza delivered

The government’s new bill is hopeless, writes Chris Stokel-Walker. We do need protections for children, so don’t repeal it – rewrite it

Politics

4 d. ago 'Gag' on top brass after RAF chief's claims that UK could not fend off Russian onslaught in the event of war 

Earlier this summer there were complaints of 'unprecedented' interference by Downing Street to ensure that key announcements were made by politicians, not military figures.

Events

4 d. ago 'Gag' on top brass after RAF chief claims UK could not fend off Russian onslaught in the event of war 

Earlier this summer there were complaints of 'unprecedented' interference by Downing Street to ensure that key announcements were made by politicians, not military figures.

Events

4 d. ago Keir Starmer's latest approval rating is out and it's not good news

Two key issues, Israel and the Online Safety Act, were looked at in this latest polling

Politics

4 d. ago The UK's Online Safety Act is a licence for censorship – and the rest of the world is following suit | Taylor Lorenz

From the US and Australia to France and Italy, those seeking to obliterate privacy and restrict content are on the move Over the past two weeks, the UK has reportedly blocked internet users’ access to everything from SpongeBob SquarePants gifs to Spotify playlists. Information about Joe Biden’s police funding plan has been restricted, along with a post about an up-and-coming political party. Gamers say they have been unable to tweak colours in games such as Minecraft. And it’s all because of a new age verification law.Since the child safety provisions contained within the Online Safety Act came into effect on 25 July, web service providers have been forced to institute “highly effective” age verification measures to prevent children from accessing “harmful” or “adult” content. The penalty for failing to adequately comply with the act includes hefty fines and potential criminal action.Taylor Lorenz is a technology journalist who writes the newsletter User Mag and is the author of the...

Politics

5 d. ago Catfish victims say there was 'no accountability' after they received unwanted adult content

After being personally targeted with fetish content, online safety expert and journalist Dr Rebecca Whittington digs into the case of a serial catfish targeting female journalists

Events

5 d. ago Marc Andreessen complains to Downing Street about Online Safety Act and UK tech minister

Venture capitalist’s intervention comes amid backlash to sweeping new internet legislation

Politics

6 d. ago Georgia Harrison slams Nigel Farage's pledge as 'most ridiculous' thing society could imagine

Georgia Harrison has said Nigel Farage's pledge to scrap the UK’s online safety laws would be 'the most ridiculous, damaging thing that society could ever imagine'

Politics

6 d. ago Online Safety Act poses ‘substantial threat to privacy and freedom of speech', experts warn

An honourable attempt to protect children online has backfired after the Online Safety Act put up barriers to adults wanting to access innocuous content – pushing them into the arms of VPN providers

Events

7 d. ago Jimmy Savile’s name being used for ‘disturbing’ political point scoring, says lawyer for victims

Alan Collins said that he doubted ‘any online legislation would interfere with the criminal activities of a latter-day Savile’

Politics

8 d. ago Is your child ready for their first mobile? What every parent should know first

With online threats rising and pressure to hand over a phone growing, a new UK network is offering parents a way to stay involved – without the usual tech battles.

Society

8 d. ago Government defends Online Safety Act after X claims it threatens free speech

The move came after Elon Musk’s social media platform X criticised the new law which it described as ‘heavy-handed’.

Politics

9 d. ago New UK porn safety laws spark a rush of tourists heading to Amsterdam

There has been a 122% jump in bookings to the red light capital since the Online Safety Act came into force on July 25

Society

9 d. ago Labour reignites row with Nigel Farage as Home Office minister Jess Phillips says Reform UK is 'empowering modern

Home Office minister Jess Phillips launched a fresh attack on Reform's promise to scrap the Online Safety Act.

Politics

1 week ago Social media battles and barbs on both sides of Atlantic over UK Online Safety Act

Farage accuses government of being ‘so below the belt’ as right wing doubles down on censorship claims The UK’s Online Safety Act has been greatly anticipated. Amid mounting concerns about the ease of accessing harmful content online, rules were drawn up to force social platforms to protect children from posts and videos that incite hatred or encourage suicide, self-harm or eating disorders.But within days of coming into force, the new approach to keeping children safe online had become a rallying point for the right in both Britain and the US. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Jess Phillips: Nigel Farage would enable ‘modern day Jimmy Saviles’

Jess Phillips, the Home Office minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, condemned the Reform leader.

Politics