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-   -   Online Safety Bill Etc (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33711643)

thenry 25-02-2026 15:41

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
No more taboo :shocked:

Hugh 25-02-2026 15:42

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36211264)
They are currently the most popular party by far. Obviously things can change, but do you seriously think people are going to come back in droves to the Conservative or Labour Parties?

---------- Post added at 16:13 ---------- Previous post was at 16:10 ----------



Your constant jibes are making me think you have a crush on me, Hugh. Do you give your partner as much attention? I’m really flattered. :erm:

I don’t know where that came from, but could you put it back wherever it manifested from, lock it in an airtight box, strap the box down with 1/2" chains attached to a concrete base, and then take off and nuke the entire site from orbit - it’s the only way to be sure.

You need serious help - have you spoken to your partner about these fantasies you have?

jem 25-02-2026 16:00

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36211267)
Ofcom fines website £1.35m for not having age checks for adult content:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safe...ing-age-checks

Also, the UK government yesterday announced a ban on 'incest simulation' in porn.

Where is this company based though? The best I have managed to find is that apparently some of its website registrations had been moved to the Seychelles.

If true, then the chances of them ever paying a single penny of that fine are slim to none.

Itshim 25-02-2026 16:08

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by jem (Post 36211270)
Where is this company based though? The best I have managed to find is that apparently some of its website registrations had been moved to the Seychelles.

If true, then the chances of them ever paying a single penny of that fine are slim to none.

Very true have to look as if they are doing something. Yet another waste of money.

Sirius 25-02-2026 16:36

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim (Post 36211271)
Very true have to look as if they are doing something. Yet another waste of money.

Complete waste of time, they will not pay the fine as Ofcom cannot enforce it on a company outside of the UK. Think of all the tax payers money wasted on investigating this and then have no return for all that effort. Ofcom are very quick to say who they have issued fines to, however they will not say who have actually paid them verses who has not.

More detailed info here

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/...e-verification


Quote:

We suspect the likelihood of Ofcom ever seeing the money from this fine is low, and the most likely outcome will be that the bevy of sites that 8579 LLC operate will end up being blocked from UK IP address blocks. The question is whether the firm will bother or if Ofcom has to get UK providers to block the sites.
The reality is that even if the government blocked the IP's for these sites anyone who still wants to visit them will just circumnavigate the issue via a VPN

Paul 25-02-2026 17:04

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
If you check on ofcoms site, they handily list the actual websites (and ofcom isnt age protected :rolleyes:).

Some of the sites that were run by 8579 LLC have now been transferred to other companies.
Aside from just blocking the UK, these sites can just move companies, leaving the one "fined" as defunct.

Just another example of how utterly clueless the people who dreamed this up are. :dozey:
None of these sites are likely to be "accidently" viewed (by anyone), you have to go looking for them.

Imagine the ofcom job description ;
"You will be required to spend all day searching the internet for porn sites, and viewing them, to determine if they have age checks". :D

Carth 25-02-2026 17:09

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
It's like the reincarnation of Mary Whitehouse :erm:

damien c 26-02-2026 09:29

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Online Safety Act the joke that just keeps on giving.

RichardCoulter 27-02-2026 19:05

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
It was brought to the attention of police that there were pictures of a 12 year old girl from the agd of 5 upwards being sexually abused circulating on the internet.

In order to try and trace her to stop the abuse, the police asked facebook to look for pictures of her on Facebook as parents often upload pictures of their children.

At first they claimed that it couldn't technically be done, the police said yes it can. They then refused on the grounds that it would breach privacy. In the end the police made them do it and the little girl was found & the offender dealt with (her mother had no idea that this had been happening.)

Now that various countries are trying to protect the vulnerable from inappropriate on line behaviour, companies are claiming that their protection is extremely important to them and taking measures to show this (eg Instagram can now alert parents to inappropriate searches.)

I think this shows that, left to their own devices, social media sites don't give a toss and would do anything to be uncooperative.

RichardCoulter 28-02-2026 10:03

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
The little girl is called Lucy and you can hear what happened here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct8yw4

Carth 28-02-2026 15:09

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
No thanks Richard, it's bad enough just knowing this crap happens, I've got no desire to go delving deep into the gory details . . .

Maybe others do, but it's a no from me.

RichardCoulter 03-03-2026 02:09

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
HarmBlock is a system that is embedded into the operating system (so can't be switched off) of devices to prevent inappropriate activity.

It will prevent explicit harmful imagery from being seen, shot, shared, produced and stored. The first device from Nokia is now available with more to follow.

Carth 03-03-2026 09:24

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
I didn't think Nokia were still players in the game, who the heck uses Nokia nowadays?

Majority of kids (whom incidentally we/you are trying to protect) cry and throw a tantrum if they can't have the latest iPhone.

*on bandwagon jump they do*

https://external-content.duckduckgo....23b&ipo=images

Paul 03-03-2026 14:39

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36211583)
HarmBlock is a system that is embedded into the operating system (so can't be switched off) of devices to prevent inappropriate activity.

Who definess "inappropriate activity" ?
Who would want something you cannot control (see above) ?

RichardCoulter 03-03-2026 23:50

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36211617)
Who definess "inappropriate activity" ?
Who would want something you cannot control (see above) ?

These phones will be invaluable to children and other vulnerable members of society, those who have no wish to be exposed to the seedy side of the internet or where the owner of the device/bill payer does not wish to facilitate inappropriate use.

https://harmblock.com/

Paul 04-03-2026 00:59

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36211656)
These phones will be invaluable to children and other vulnerable members of society, those who have no wish to be exposed to the seedy side of the internet or where the owner of the device/bill payer does not wish to facilitate inappropriate use.

You dont need a special phone to avoid the "seedy side of the internet" side. Myself and millions of others manage to do it just fine.

Stephen 04-03-2026 07:49

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36211656)
These phones will be invaluable to children and other vulnerable members of society, those who have no wish to be exposed to the seedy side of the internet or where the owner of the device/bill payer does not wish to facilitate inappropriate use.

https://harmblock.com/

That doesn't need a special app or device.


Don't go looking for it and you won't be exposed to it :shrug:

Carth 04-03-2026 09:36

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36211663)
You dont need a special phone to avoid the "seedy side of the internet" side. Myself and millions of others manage to do it just fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen (Post 36211671)
That doesn't need a special app or device.


Don't go looking for it and you won't be exposed to it :shrug:

Both of the above are absolutely correct.

The UK should legislate a 'Darwin' rule of law, the sort of thing that says 'you've been warned constantly and restrictions have been put in place, yet you still knowingly did something that could cause you harm. Don't come crying.'

RichardCoulter 04-03-2026 15:06

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen (Post 36211671)
That doesn't need a special app or device.


Don't go looking for it and you won't be exposed to it :shrug:

That's the whole point, some will go looking for it and this is to prevent them from gaining access.

Stephen 04-03-2026 15:20

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Well if they were warned and told not to, then still go looking for it, that personally is a them issue. We shouldn't all have to be monitored and told what we can look at because some are not smart enough to take notice of the advice and seek it out anyway. :shrug:

Carth 04-03-2026 15:47

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36211713)
That's the whole point, some will go looking for it and this is to prevent them from gaining access.

Those that go looking will usually find, by one means or another, no matter how many preventative checks are in place . . . or how many times they've been warned (from an early age).

jem 04-03-2026 17:16

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36211715)
Those that go looking will usually find, by one means or another, no matter how many preventative checks are in place . . . or how many times they've been warned (from an early age).

Exactly, nail meet head!

Also if this is baked into the OS, then it has to be adopted and incorporated as part of the OS by the manufacturers - can you imagine Apple and Google doing this? For iOS and pure Android, it’ll be a flat no! Some forks of Android may incorporate it but it be very niche and have a tiny market share.

RichardCoulter 04-03-2026 17:22

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by jem (Post 36211718)
Exactly, nail meet head!

Also if this is baked into the OS, then it has to be adopted and incorporated as part of the OS by the manufacturers - can you imagine Apple and Google doing this? For iOS and pure Android, it’ll be a flat no! Some forks of Android may incorporate it but it be very niche and have a tiny market share.

You may well be right, but it will be useful for work phones and extremely useful for parents who wish to prevent their children from accessing inappropriate content or stop predators sending sexual predatory messages (and stop them from sending naked pictures of themselves as predators so often like to try and persuade them to do.) These are then posted to paedophile websites or used to blackmail them for money or to force them to send even more explicit content.

Carth 04-03-2026 20:48

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
I'm a pensioner, I often get emails and unsolicited phone calls that urge me to click a strange link, or 'speak to an advisor', or try to con me into thinking my Amazon account has been compromised.

Where's my protection? I'm at an age where senility is allegedly as bad as being a 7 yr old again and I demand protection from the nasty people trying to take advantage of my vulnerability.

:PP:

Chris 04-03-2026 21:24

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36211725)
I'm a pensioner, I often get emails and unsolicited phone calls that urge me to click a strange link, or 'speak to an advisor', or try to con me into thinking my Amazon account has been compromised.

Where's my protection? I'm at an age where senility is allegedly as bad as being a 7 yr old again and I demand protection from the nasty people trying to take advantage of my vulnerability.

:PP:

There now gramps, nurse will be along with your ovaltine and sleeping pills in a moment. Take a seat. :p:

Carth 05-03-2026 01:36

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Shut it junior :D

Hugh 05-03-2026 07:12

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36211725)
I'm a pensioner, I often get emails and unsolicited phone calls that urge me to click a strange link, or 'speak to an advisor', or try to con me into thinking my Amazon account has been compromised.

Where's my protection? I'm at an age where senility is allegedly as bad as being a 7 yr old again and I demand protection from the nasty people trying to take advantage of my vulnerability.

:PP:

I can help you with that - PM your bank details and passwords, and I absolutely guarantee you that I will ensure that no one else will be able to take any money from your accounts…

Carth 05-03-2026 09:48

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36211736)
I can help you with that - PM your bank details and passwords, and I absolutely guarantee you that I will ensure that no one else will be able to take any money from your accounts…

I never had you down as an exiled Namibian Prince :shocked:

Itshim 05-03-2026 16:15

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36211725)
I'm a pensioner, I often get emails and unsolicited phone calls that urge me to click a strange link, or 'speak to an advisor', or try to con me into thinking my Amazon account has been compromised.

Where's my protection? I'm at an age where senility is allegedly as bad as being a 7 yr old again and I demand protection from the nasty people trying to take advantage of my vulnerability.

:PP:

Love it:D

Sirius 10-03-2026 09:14

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
MPs vote down social media ban for under-16s

MPs have voted against a proposal to ban under-16s from using social media.

The Conservatives had pushed for the move via an amendment to the government's flagship education legislation currently going through parliament: the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

It had been backed by the House of Lords, but was defeated in the Commons on Monday night by 307 votes to 173.

https://news.sky.com/story/mps-vote-...r-16s-13517545

Carth 10-03-2026 10:14

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
I'm becoming increasingly frustrated by being denied 'access' to sites unless I create an account and log in (for my safety apparently)

Take Twitch as an example, I used to browse the games section to see if there was anything I fancied trying, watching some gameplay to see it I liked it.
Now I can't do that because some of the content may be 'distressing' or 'harmful' to my well being . . at the age of 72 you're a bit bloody late :D

On the other hand, I can easily watch the news programs and see (often with images) stories of people being stabbed, shot, mown down by cars, and desperate people starving while their homes are being blown to smithereens by missiles & bombs.

It seems to me that Real Life isn't classed as 'harmful' to me as watching a movie or video game. :rolleyes:

RichardCoulter 10-03-2026 12:36

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36212127)
I'm becoming increasingly frustrated by being denied 'access' to sites unless I create an account and log in (for my safety apparently)

Take Twitch as an example, I used to browse the games section to see if there was anything I fancied trying, watching some gameplay to see it I liked it.
Now I can't do that because some of the content may be 'distressing' or 'harmful' to my well being . . at the age of 72 you're a bit bloody late :D

On the other hand, I can easily watch the news programs and see (often with images) stories of people being stabbed, shot, mown down by cars, and desperate people starving while their homes are being blown to smithereens by missiles & bombs.

It seems to me that Real Life isn't classed as 'harmful' to me as watching a movie or video game. :rolleyes:

It's to cover themselves because they have no proof of your age, but I take your point about the news.

papa smurf 10-03-2026 13:10

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius (Post 36212126)
MPs vote down social media ban for under-16s

MPs have voted against a proposal to ban under-16s from using social media.

The Conservatives had pushed for the move via an amendment to the government's flagship education legislation currently going through parliament: the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

It had been backed by the House of Lords, but was defeated in the Commons on Monday night by 307 votes to 173.

https://news.sky.com/story/mps-vote-...r-16s-13517545



Does this mean that parents will have to police their own kids online activity :shocked:

RichardCoulter 10-03-2026 15:18

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36212132)
Does this mean that parents will have to police their own kids online activity :shocked:

Ideally this should be being done anyway, but we don't live in an ideal world.

Carth 10-03-2026 15:26

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36212138)
Ideally this should be being done anyway, but we don't live in an ideal world.

No, no we don't.
We live in a World where everyone else has to pick up the pieces and roll with the consequences of taking away a good slap around the earhole :D

Paul 10-03-2026 16:26

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36212132)
Does this mean that parents will have to police their own kids online activity :shocked:

No, the government will be doing that by preventing them from accessing anything except Pepper Pig & Bluey (after they have provided a certified copy their birth certificate).

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36212130)
It's to cover themselves because they have no proof of your age, but I take your point about the news.

What irritates me on the news is everything is now tagged with "Distressing Content" when there is nothing remotely "distressing" about any of it.

Carth 10-03-2026 17:27

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36212157)
No, the government will be doing that by preventing them from accessing anything except Pepper Pig & Bluey (after they have provided a certified copy their birth certificate).


What irritates me on the news is everything is now tagged with "Distressing Content" when there is nothing remotely "distressing" about any of it.

Yep, I think at one time it was 'viewers discretion' or some such wording, maybe they could do the same on Twitch (and other places) so I could watch if I wanted to, or hide behind the sofa if I thought it was scary

Stephen 10-03-2026 19:35

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36212157)
No, the government will be doing that by preventing them from accessing anything except Pepper Pig & Bluey (after they have provided a certified copy their birth certificate).


What irritates me on the news is everything is now tagged with "Distressing Content" when there is nothing remotely "distressing" about any of it.

Some people may find it distressing though. If they've been through or witnessed similar events.

jem 10-03-2026 21:17

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen (Post 36212180)
Some people may find it distressing though. If they've been through or witnessed similar events.

But how will they know if it will be or not? Unless they go into detail to describe why it might be distressing - which in itself reading that, might be distressing to people who have witnessed similar events.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

Hypothetically, a news crew film the aftermath of a massacre, a story that needs to be told, it’s in a news bulletin, the announcer reports that we have video of the scene of a mass killing - please be warned that some viewers might find the following section disturbing!

Now the vast, vast majority of people will, correctly, realise that what is likely to be shown are dead bodies, possibly children, the more ‘graphic images won’t be shown - but still! And then they can make a choice, watch it or not!

However a minority of people won’t or can’t make that decision and see something that really upsets them.

The question is where do you draw the line? Do you censor everything, just in case one person is upset by what they see, is newsworthy and really important evidence of a massacre not shown and publicised because a few people might be distressed?

Ideally this wouldn’t be a problem, alas we don’t live in an ideal world. I’m sorry, really sorry for people who may occasionally be exposed to seeing something that they find triggering - but the greater good.....?

---------- Post added at 22:17 ---------- Previous post was at 21:57 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36212132)
Does this mean that parents will have to police their own kids online activity :shocked:

The idea of somehow policing kid’s online activity is gone, it’s nigh on impossible. Maybe in the past when there might be one ‘family computer’ in the living room; but now...?

I know I have said this before but I have two daughters (now 20 and 24 years old), wind back 15 years or so when my eldest was 10-11 and I got her an iPod Touch and hence access to the internet.

I did set up some kind of filtering, (K9), but working it IT, I understood perfectly how porous these filters are.

So what I said to her was, ‘this gives you access to the sum total of human knowledge; but also some bad stuff. If or when you stumble across something that worries you, anything you are not sure about, anything that you are not OK with; then you come to me or your Mum, you show us, and we will explain it all to you. Importantly, you will not be in any trouble, no punishments, you have done nothing wrong’.

I am concerned that people think you can provide a technological solution to what is actually a parenting issue!

Paul 10-03-2026 22:31

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen (Post 36212180)
Some people may find it distressing though. If they've been through or witnessed similar events.

Unless they are as stupid as hell, its pretty clear what an article or video is about.
If they really are that dumb, the "warning" wont matter anyway, they'll just ignore it.

It really is as stupid as putting "Warning, may contain nuts" on a packet of nuts. :dozey:

Carth 10-03-2026 23:07

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
It's all those 'ambulance chasing' lawyers isn't it, you now have to warn everyone about everything, otherwise you end up locked up and bankrupt.

You know the sort of thing . .

"Have you trodden in a cow pat in the dark while rustling cattle? Call us now and compensation will be swift and satisfactory"

RichardCoulter 10-03-2026 23:18

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36212188)
Unless they are as stupid as hell, its pretty clear what an article or video is about.
If they really are that dumb, the "warning" wont matter anyway, they'll just ignore it.

It really is as stupid as putting "Warning, may contain nuts" on a packet of nuts. :dozey:


They probably do it to cover those with mental impairments/disabilities, such as people with dementia etc

Paul 11-03-2026 02:24

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
No, they dont, Carth is probably closer.

RichardCoulter 12-03-2026 12:51

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius (Post 36212126)
MPs vote down social media ban for under-16s

MPs have voted against a proposal to ban under-16s from using social media.

The Conservatives had pushed for the move via an amendment to the government's flagship education legislation currently going through parliament: the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

It had been backed by the House of Lords, but was defeated in the Commons on Monday night by 307 votes to 173.

https://news.sky.com/story/mps-vote-...r-16s-13517545

Been announced today that social media companies will now have to robustly check that their minimum age policies are adhered to, that there will be protection from groomers, that there will be safer feeds and that there will be an end to product testing on children.

papa smurf 12-03-2026 13:05

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36212244)
Been announced today that social media companies will now have to robustly check that their minimum age policies are adhered to, that there will be protection from groomers, that there will be safer feeds and that there will be an end to product testing on children.

keep clutching at that last straw :rofl:

RichardCoulter 12-03-2026 19:14

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36212245)
keep clutching at that last straw :rofl:

You're not saying that this is a bad move, surely?

I think that it would have been better to ban U16 or U18's from social media, but this was rejected by Parliament. By doing this at least younger children will be protected, so it's a fair compromise.

Carth 12-03-2026 21:26

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Yes, great idea, it's much like when those in power stopped us having coal fires & wood burners, scrapped all the coal fired power stations, spent £billions on Solar Energy and Wind Turbines, car manufacturers developed much cleaner internal combustion engines, and now people are virtually being forced to buy electric cars and those silly warm air pump things.


Has the planet stopped warming up yet?

Paul 12-03-2026 23:29

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36212278)
Has the planet stopped warming up yet?

Nope.

papa smurf 13-03-2026 07:33

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36212278)
Yes, great idea, it's much like when those in power stopped us having coal fires & wood burners, scrapped all the coal fired power stations, spent £billions on Solar Energy and Wind Turbines, car manufacturers developed much cleaner internal combustion engines, and now people are virtually being forced to buy electric cars and those silly warm air pump things.


Has the planet stopped warming up yet?

it has here it's bloody cold

Carth 13-03-2026 08:11

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36212297)
it has here it's bloody cold

Throw another lump of coal on the . . . oh wait, maybe it's gonna have to be an extra bar used on that 'oh so efficient' electric fire then.

;)

jem 13-03-2026 19:12

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36212272)
You're not saying that this is a bad move, surely?

I think that it would have been better to ban U16 or U18's from social media, but this was rejected by Parliament. By doing this at least younger children will be protected, so it's a fair compromise.

"Been announced today that social media companies will now have to robustly check that their minimum age policies are adhered to, that there will be protection from groomers, that there will be safer feeds and that there will be an end to product testing on children.”

But that is all incredibly vague, just what constitutes a robust check? There will be protection from groomers - how? There will be safer feeds - which means what? An end to product testing on children - again, what does that mean, is it even a thing?

It’s not a bad move in itself, it's just a completely ineffective move. It will achieve nothing. It all comes around to the problem of age verification - just how do you prove that an individual is an adult (for arguments sake)? Well you have to turn over all sorts of personal information to some third party (which may or may not have ties to senior government officials) and whose security may well be as leaky as a sieve. I can just imagine the fallout from when (when not if) one of these providers gets hacked and all of their data stolen and the hackers now have the information that say, one Richard.Coulter has a login for ‘Spanking-Nuns-Monthly.com’, or whatever!

You can see the actually problem here?

OK look, I’m sure the vast majority of posters on here, do share your concerns about the impact of social media on children. And there is one excellent way of addressing it - education, ideally by the parents but by schools as well.

Vague legislation, will do nothing, education will.

Paul 13-03-2026 20:16

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by jem (Post 36212374)
"It will achieve nothing. It all comes around to the problem of age verification - just how do you prove that an individual is an adult (for arguments sake)?

More to the point here, how do you prove someone is 13, as opposed to 12. Request more personal information on kids now ? :erm:

Carth 14-03-2026 10:34

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36212377)
More to the point here, how do you prove someone is 13, as opposed to 12. Request more personal information on kids now ? :erm:

Ensuring a young persons online safety by making them reveal their personal details to anyone that asks is definitely the right way to go . . . says nobody with more than 7 brain cells.

It's just the typical knee jerk reaction of the Government and its army of experts, not just in this case but many over the previous years.

jem 14-03-2026 20:26

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36212404)
Ensuring a young persons online safety by making them reveal their personal details to anyone that asks is definitely the right way to go . . . says nobody with more than 7 brain cells.

It's just the typical knee jerk reaction of the Government and its army of experts, not just in this case but many over the previous years.

You make a good point, but the issue is not really making a young person reveal their details, it’s making you and I and everyone else over 18, hand over personal details to some third party (probably the cheapest contractor - cheapest for a reason) and trust that they have a degree of competence and won’t allow all of that personal information to be hacked - hint, they won’t.

Do expect that within a year this company will be subject to a ‘sophisticated attack’ - which generally means that some clown (probably in higher management - because the rules don’t apply to them) clicked on a link in an obvious phishing email and coughed up their credentials. And naturally because they are the Senior Vice-President of Marketing and toilet paper, they absolutely have to have full admin rights over the entire system.

Cynic? Me? Absolutely not!

Carth 15-03-2026 02:48

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by jem (Post 36212448)
You make a good point, but the issue is not really making a young person reveal their details, it’s making you and I and everyone else over 18, hand over personal details to some third party (probably the cheapest contractor - cheapest for a reason) and trust that they have a degree of competence and won’t allow all of that personal information to be hacked - hint, they won’t.

Do expect that within a year this company will be subject to a ‘sophisticated attack’ - which generally means that some clown (probably in higher management - because the rules don’t apply to them) clicked on a link in an obvious phishing email and coughed up their credentials. And naturally because they are the Senior Vice-President of Marketing and toilet paper, they absolutely have to have full admin rights over the entire system.

Cynic? Me? Absolutely not!

. . that makes 2 of us then, and I agree, you can't make people (of any age/sex) safe on the internet when the internet itself is unsafe :D

damien c 17-03-2026 06:31

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
This video should help to understand why the Government regardless of which party it is, should not be trying to make the internet safer, when they cannot keep our information safe!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWnnmr9NN9M


Just wait till you cannot use a computer without proving your age, or making a phone call without proving your age because that is coming, it's already in iPhones, it's being added to Windows, Linux, Macos and others, it's being added to Android and there will be a removal of all "Non-Smart Phones" from the market so you cannot just buy the likes of an old Nokia 3310 etc to get around it.

This is currently going through the motions in the lunatic state of California with the as equally insane EU planning to implement it, and apparently Dictator Starmer also looking to have it implemented.


The annoying thing is I tried to set up a road tax reminder yesterday and you cannot do that now without having a government digital id, I wonder how long it will be before you cannot tax a vehicle without one or even buy fuel without one.

This whole world is going mad for mass surveillance, monitoring and control.

RichardCoulter 17-03-2026 22:53

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by damien c (Post 36212558)
This video should help to understand why the Government regardless of which party it is, should not be trying to make the internet safer, when they cannot keep our information safe!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWnnmr9NN9M


Just wait till you cannot use a computer without proving your age, or making a phone call without proving your age because that is coming, it's already in iPhones, it's being added to Windows, Linux, Macos and others, it's being added to Android and there will be a removal of all "Non-Smart Phones" from the market so you cannot just buy the likes of an old Nokia 3310 etc to get around it.

This is currently going through the motions in the lunatic state of California with the as equally insane EU planning to implement it, and apparently Dictator Starmer also looking to have it implemented.


The annoying thing is I tried to set up a road tax reminder yesterday and you cannot do that now without having a government digital id, I wonder how long it will be before you cannot tax a vehicle without one or even buy fuel without one.

This whole world is going mad for mass surveillance, monitoring and control.

In the UK parents seem to be going back to non smartphones in order to keep their kids safer.

Paul 18-03-2026 01:46

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36212615)
In the UK parents seem to be going back to non smartphones in order to keep their kids safer.

Which is fine as a choice, what is not acceptable is trying to force it.

damien c 18-03-2026 06:06

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36212615)
In the UK parents seem to be going back to non smartphones in order to keep their kids safer.

You fail to understand.

In the UK they will remove the "Non-Smart" phones because the Government cannot force a "Age Restriction" on them nor can they track them as easily as a Smart Phone.

If the Government cannot force you to have a Digital ID, they will force you to hand over your current ID in order to use any device or service they possibly can.

You cannot trust this government or the previous governments to keep you or your children safe, when they cannot keep themselves safe or the information they currently have on you.

papa smurf 18-03-2026 07:17

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36212615)
In the UK parents seem to be going back to non smartphones in order to keep their kids safer.

if a parent buys their child a none smart phone that child will become one of the none cool kids and get the hell bullied out of them ,that's the nature of kids, being the school dork will not make you safe

GrimUpNorth 18-03-2026 08:04

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36212624)
if a parent buys their child a none smart phone that child will become one of the none cool kids and get the hell bullied out of them ,that's the nature of kids, being the school dork will not make you safe

Ask Papa, he knows. Now come over here and let me whip you with this wound up towel ;).

Dingbat 18-03-2026 09:35

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
When my late father in law was in a care home, we got him a basic mobile so he could keep in contact with his family. He wouldn’t have understood the tech on a smart phone. So there is still a market for them with the elderly.

Conversely, there also seems to be a demand for them as burner phones with drug dealers, as they are apparently not so easy to trace/track.

Sirius 19-03-2026 15:43

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
This is how weak the online Safety Bill is and why it has no teeth when it comes to anything outside the UK.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c624330lg1ko

Quote:

The UK online safety regulator Ofcom has fined the US messaging platform 4Chan a total of £520,000 for failing to comply with various aspects of the Online Safety Act.

It includes £450,000 for failing to put in age checks to prevent children from seeing pornography on the platform.

However, a lawyer representing the company - which has previously said it won't pay such fines - has responded to the demand with an AI-generated cartoon image of a hamster.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standar...79701.jpg.webp

:LOL:

damien c 21-03-2026 19:19

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Dingbat (Post 36212632)
When my late father in law was in a care home, we got him a basic mobile so he could keep in contact with his family. He wouldn’t have understood the tech on a smart phone. So there is still a market for them with the elderly.

Conversely, there also seems to be a demand for them as burner phones with drug dealers, as they are apparently not so easy to trace/track.

I got the "Dorro" phones for my late Grandad, because they had the "Emergency Button" on them, but even they have started going to "Smart Phones" and adding the likes of Whatsapp etc to them.

Not many kids will want to use them phones though, so cannot see kids using them to get around anything, but if kids start with them, then I can see this clown show of a government looking to ban them.

OLD BOY 23-03-2026 10:15

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Maybe we should just ban children. Perhaps then this lot we leave us in peace.

But then of course, they will decide that the ‘oldies’ need protection….

Carth 23-03-2026 11:37

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
I'd much rather ban 'experts' . . they don't half cause some problems :D

Itshim 23-03-2026 14:03

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36212900)
I'd much rather ban 'experts' . . they don't half cause some problems :D

I question the people that fall for the rubbish spoken, when being canvassed for their vote:shocked:

RichardCoulter 23-03-2026 17:28

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by damien c (Post 36212623)
You fail to understand.

In the UK they will remove the "Non-Smart" phones because the Government cannot force a "Age Restriction" on them nor can they track them as easily as a Smart Phone.

If the Government cannot force you to have a Digital ID, they will force you to hand over your current ID in order to use any device or service they possibly can.

You cannot trust this government or the previous governments to keep you or your children safe, when they cannot keep themselves safe or the information they currently have on you.

No, I don't misunderstand, because this is merely yout conjecture and opinion, unless you have evidence of the ridiculous notion that the Government is to ban basic phones.

papa smurf 23-03-2026 17:35

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36212900)
I'd much rather ban 'experts' . . they don't half cause some problems :D

expertly put:tiptoe:

RichardCoulter 26-03-2026 02:01

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
I wonder if this will lead to amendments to the Online Safety Act in the UK? Although this was in America, the BBC said that it could have implications around the world.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c747x7gz249o

Quote:

Jurors found that Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and Google, owner of YouTube, intentionally built addictive social media platforms that harmed the 20-year old's mental health.

The woman, known as Kaley, was awarded $6m (£4.5m) in damages, a result likely to have implications for hundreds of similar cases now winding their way through US courts.
Quote:

The LA verdict came a day after a jury in New Mexico found Meta liable for the way in which its platforms endangered children and exposed them to sexually explicit material and contact with sexual predators.

papa smurf 26-03-2026 06:50

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36213011)
I wonder if this will lead to amendments to the Online Safety Act in the UK? Although this was in America, the BBC said that it could have implications around the world.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c747x7gz249o

Let's wait for the results of the appeal

nomadking 26-03-2026 07:13

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
There's meant to be a distinction between "addiction" and "obsession". Girls get "obsessed" by boy bands and have done so for decades. Nothing new.
About time a look was taken at what the mainstream media(eg BBC) promotes.

Carth 26-03-2026 09:16

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Well it's certainly not entertaining or news most of the time.

RichardCoulter 26-03-2026 10:00

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Apple brings in age checks for UK iPhone users:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20qwz9xzr9o

This could be the way forward so that adults don't have to verify their age for multiple websites.

nomadking 26-03-2026 10:08

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36213039)
Apple brings in age checks for UK iPhone users:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20qwz9xzr9o

This could be the way forward so that adults don't have to verify their age for multiple websites.

And for those who don't have a credit card, driving licence, or passport?

OLD BOY 26-03-2026 10:34

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36213011)
I wonder if this will lead to amendments to the Online Safety Act in the UK? Although this was in America, the BBC said that it could have implications around the world.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c747x7gz249o

Ridiculous verdict and award. All this does is threaten to take away perfectly good and loved apps from adults. This is a wrecking ball mentality fuelled by a working class hatred of multi-million pound organisations.

I’m surprised that the States has done this. Hopefully, some common sense will be injected at the appeal.

RichardCoulter 26-03-2026 10:54

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking (Post 36213041)
And for those who don't have a credit card, driving licence, or passport?

There will be other ways made available to verify identity for those without these particular documents, as there is for registering for a postal vote or voting in person.

papa smurf 26-03-2026 11:00

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36213047)
There will be other ways made available to verify identity for those without these particular documents, as there is for registering for a postal vote or voting in person.

just pop down to your local Geheime Staatspolizei office :erm:

Carth 26-03-2026 11:04

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
:rofl:

nomadking 26-03-2026 11:10

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36213047)
There will be other ways made available to verify identity for those without these particular documents, as there is for registering for a postal vote or voting in person.

No mention of "other" in the Apple details. I did check.
Link

Itshim 26-03-2026 13:22

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36213046)
Ridiculous verdict and award. All this does is threaten to take away perfectly good and loved apps from adults. This is a wrecking ball mentality fuelled by a working class hatred of multi-million pound organisations.

I’m surprised that the States has done this. Hopefully, some common sense will be injected at the appeal.

This sort of result often happens from a jury , let's see what the appeal brings . :cool:

Paul 26-03-2026 17:36

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking (Post 36213041)
And for those who don't have a credit card, driving licence, or passport?

Buy an Android phone. :D

Sirius 26-03-2026 18:12

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
I don't have a credit card so i had to go with the driving licence option to confirm my age on my iPhone, it took 12 attempts before it finally accepted my detail and confirmed i am over 18. They need to sort it out other wise they are going to ether lose users to Android or the help lines will be full.

I wonder if this data is being shared with the Government and if it is why.

nomadking 26-03-2026 18:26

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36213073)
Buy an Android phone. :D

I already did.

Carth 26-03-2026 18:41

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius (Post 36213080)
I don't have a credit card so i had to go with the driving licence option to confirm my age on my iPhone, it took 12 attempts before it finally accepted my detail and confirmed i am over 18. They need to sort it out other wise they are going to ether lose users to Android or the help lines will be full.

I wonder if this data is being shared with the Government and if it is why.

I don't see why not, every other bugger on the planet probably has it :D

RichardCoulter 28-03-2026 20:39

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius (Post 36213080)
I don't have a credit card so i had to go with the driving licence option to confirm my age on my iPhone, it took 12 attempts before it finally accepted my detail and confirmed i am over 18. They need to sort it out other wise they are going to ether lose users to Android or the help lines will be full.

I wonder if this data is being shared with the Government and if it is why.

Now that your phone has verified you're over 18, are you still being asked for age verification on websites (without using your VPN?)

---------- Post added at 21:39 ---------- Previous post was at 21:37 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36213046)
Ridiculous verdict and award. All this does is threaten to take away perfectly good and loved apps from adults. This is a wrecking ball mentality fuelled by a working class hatred of multi-million pound organisations.

I’m surprised that the States has done this. Hopefully, some common sense will be injected at the appeal.

This programme provides some insight into the claim:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct8mbs

Quote:

In a bellwether case, a jury in Los Angeles found on Wednesday that Meta and YouTube are responsible for a young woman’s childhood addiction to social media, and intentionally built addictive platforms that harmed her health. The companies say they intend to appeal against the verdict, which could set a legal precedent and have far-reaching consequences.

Marianna Spring, the BBC’s social media investigations correspondent, has spent the past year speaking to whistleblowers and insiders from social media companies, revealing how algorithms designed to connect people have been helping to tear them apart. We ask if this week’s verdict is just the start of something much bigger

nffc 28-03-2026 20:46

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Ironic i misread "bellwether" as "bedwetter" there

Paul 28-03-2026 22:10

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36213141)
Now that your phone has verified you're over 18, are you still being asked for age verification on websites (without using your VPN?)

Websites are not going to magically know your phone has passed any such verification.

Sirius 28-03-2026 22:27

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36213141)
Now that your phone has verified you're over 18, are you still being asked for age verification on websites (without using your VPN?)

---------- Post added at 21:39 ---------- Previous post was at 21:37 ----------



This programme provides some insight into the claim:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct8mbs

I am still using a VPN as I do not agree with all the tracking that goes on. I only use my phone on the net when I am out of the house. I use a pc in the house so the apple verification does not work for the pc.

---------- Post added at 23:27 ---------- Previous post was at 23:25 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36213147)
Websites are not going to magically know your phone has passed any such verification.

Indeed

damien c 29-03-2026 07:52

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36213039)
Apple brings in age checks for UK iPhone users:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20qwz9xzr9o

This could be the way forward so that adults don't have to verify their age for multiple websites.

Nope it's just more ways to force ID Checks on to anything and everything.

This has wiped out any benefits to Apple from Android as Apple have publicly lied to it's user base and potential user base.

https://www.theverge.com/tech/884306...-ios-26-4-beta

Use the "13 foot ladder" to block the paywall etc.

Android, Windows, Linux etc are all implementing it, and those who think they are not are delusional.

This will not stop app's or websites demanding you provide a copy of your ID to them in order to access something you should be able to access.

Also in case anyone was not aware, ALL of your messages and photos are going to be scanned!

https://www.bowcockpursaill.co.uk/ne...act-expanding/

This is something that was originally blocked because of privacy etc but now this clown show have used the "Cyber Flashing" law to force companies to start looking at all your messages and photos, so no more saucy photo's to your partners otherwise you will be labelled and flagged for monitoring!

All this now does is mean more people will be looking at secure messaging services and avoid using the likes of Fakebook, Whatsapp etc as they are not secure, neither is the messages on your phone etc, I believe even emails will be scanned.

FFS we cannot stop people breaking into this country and this clown show of a government and people who support the OSA and Digital ID think that we can somehow stop our information from being stolen?

Anyone who supports both in the current forms are delusional and need locking up!


North Korea is looking more and more sane on a daily basis!!

RichardCoulter 29-03-2026 22:05

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36213147)
Websites are not going to magically know your phone has passed any such verification.

I wondered if it would be possible for websites that require proof of being over 18 to be able to grant access after cross checking with the device. I suppose the argument is that someone under 18 could be using a parents, a lost or stolen phone in order to access adult material.

jem 30-03-2026 18:55

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36213168)
I wondered if it would be possible for websites that require proof of being over 18 to be able to grant access after cross checking with the device. I suppose the argument is that someone under 18 could be using a parents, a lost or stolen phone in order to access adult material.

No, absolutely not.

The point of Apple’s requirement for age verification is to cover themselves with respect to the OSA and also with new legislation in California. Not verifying your age, blocks you from installing 18+ rated apps from the App Store, and a couple of other things regarding settings. But this is absolutely not shared with anyone else, so no; websites hosting adult content will still need to check themselves.

RichardCoulter 13-04-2026 13:04

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by jem (Post 36213186)
No, absolutely not.

The point of Apple’s requirement for age verification is to cover themselves with respect to the OSA and also with new legislation in California. Not verifying your age, blocks you from installing 18+ rated apps from the App Store, and a couple of other things regarding settings. But this is absolutely not shared with anyone else, so no; websites hosting adult content will still need to check themselves.

Thanks for explaining, so this measure is limited in what it can do. I think it worth the powers that be exploring if the device age verification could be extended to the internet as a whole, so that adults aren't inconvenienced by having to repeatedly verify theur age whilst, at the ssne time, children are blocked from inappropriate sites.

Re: The Australian ban on social media for U16's.

Channel 5 say that reported figures show that 61% of children aged 12 to 15 are still accessing social media. This isn't because they are somehow circumventing the ban eg by using VPN's, but because social media companies aren't doing as they should do.

Paul 13-04-2026 19:28

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
It also shows that at least 61% of children dont want a ban.

RichardCoulter 13-04-2026 22:38

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36213909)
It also shows that at least 61% of children dont want a ban.

I'm sure they don't, but it's not for them to decide at those ages.

A woman said on TV today that she was livid when her school banned social media, but now that she's older and has children of her own, she realises that it was a good thing.

Paul 14-04-2026 01:46

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 36213919)
I'm sure they don't, but it's not for them to decide at those ages.

Ah, right, children should be seen and not heard. Got it. :rolleyes:

Carth 14-04-2026 01:57

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
If it was SAFER to go outside instead of sitting on their phones, maybe they would :erm:

joglynne 17-04-2026 09:00

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Just received this link from the ICO campaign empowering parents to discuss online privacy with children

https://ico.org.uk/switched-on-to-privacy/

RichardCoulter 17-04-2026 09:51

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36213922)
If it was SAFER to go outside instead of sitting on their phones, maybe they would :erm:

These days I think that the real world is actually safer than the online world. Hacking into someone's bank account is a lot safer for thieves than burgling a house and grooming potential victims online is a lot safer for paedophiles than approaching a child in the street.

---------- Post added at 10:51 ---------- Previous post was at 10:51 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by joglynne (Post 36214028)
Just received this link from the ICO campaign empowering parents to discuss online privacy with children

https://ico.org.uk/switched-on-to-privacy/

Thank you for posting this excellent information.

Carth 17-04-2026 10:21

Re: Online Safety Bill Etc
 
Alternatively, I don't know of anyone who's been shot or stabbed online :erm:

Actually, thinking about it, isn't most of the crap that happens - online or outdoors - instigated by kids anyway?


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