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

The action sought to exempt the platform from new regulations

Events

68 h. 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

3 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

4 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

5 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

5 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

6 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

9 d. 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

9 d. 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