Online Safety Bill Etc

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Hugh

"reasonable adjustments"…

Here are some examples

https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov....or%20decisions




Completely redesigning a system/website because someone insists on not having help to take a photo would not be a reasonable adjustment…

Two opposing views and interpretations of the law, which is why I think it will be interesting to see the outcome if he decides to make things legal.

As per Ofcom, there should be ways of meeting his needs (without completely redesigning a system).

[Carth]

Leave it out Richard.

He's been blind since birth, moved to the UK (with family) many years ago, went through university, gained employment as a lawyer and has risen from basically a nobody to where he is now.

I'd suggest that during all that time he's faced much harder trials than the issue he's moaning about now.

Jumping on the band wagon for some fame and fortune in my opinion.

[RichardCoulter]

Been told that Ofcom are to survey children from aged 8 upwards to find out which websites they use and if they have been asked to verify their age.

I had assumed that this would be more reactive than proactive.

[peanut]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Been told that Ofcom are to survey children from aged 8 upwards to find out which websites they use and if they have been asked to verify their age.

I had assumed that this would be more reactive than proactive.

What a joke and a waste of time.

No point in asking 13-15 year olds as if they'd tell you the truth to what sites they visit..

[tweetiepooh]

Originally Posted by peanut

What a joke and a waste of time.

No point in asking 13-15 year olds as if they'd tell you the truth to what sites they visit..

For some, if they could cause mischief ...

[Carth]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Been told that Ofcom are to survey children from aged 8 upwards to find out which websites they use and if they have been asked to verify their age.

I had assumed that this would be more reactive than proactive.

That sounds like an interesting project, I wonder how they're going to manage it?

I can't imagine an Ofcom employee standing outside schools questioning the kids as they arrive, that could end up as rather embarrassing.

Email questionnaire maybe? Nah, I can't see kids of that age bothering with email addresses, and those that do would probably hit delete without reading.

However it's conducted would have to be on an individual basis too, no point asking a room full of kids if they've recently tried to watch porn or access a website selling knives is it.

I wonder if it will fall once again into the hands of teachers, taking time out of the ridiculous notion of actually educating children in order to have 1 on 1 sessions with them to create yet another statistical database used to create even more 'safeguarding' initiatives.

I'm surprised all kids aged 8 to 15 aren't now so confused by it all that they spend time on street corners drinking white lightening

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I had assumed that this would be more reactive than proactive.

I expect they have to "justify" their existance somehow, so what better way that pointless surveys.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Carth

That sounds like an interesting project, I wonder how they're going to manage it?

I can't imagine an Ofcom employee standing outside schools questioning the kids as they arrive, that could end up as rather embarrassing.

Email questionnaire maybe? Nah, I can't see kids of that age bothering with email addresses, and those that do would probably hit delete without reading.

However it's conducted would have to be on an individual basis too, no point asking a room full of kids if they've recently tried to watch porn or access a website selling knives is it.

I wonder if it will fall once again into the hands of teachers, taking time out of the ridiculous notion of actually educating children in order to have 1 on 1 sessions with them to create yet another statistical database used to create even more 'safeguarding' initiatives.

I'm surprised all kids aged 8 to 15 aren't now so confused by it all that they spend time on street corners drinking white lightening

I've asked and it will be done via online invites to parents as parents have to give consent for children to take the surveys (which they will take on their own).

It won't actually be focusing on over 18 sites, but on user to user generated content sites.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I've asked and it will be done via online invites to parents as parents have to give consent for children to take the surveys (which they will take on their own).

It won't actually be focusing on over 18 sites, but on user to user generated content sites.

Surveys are also being sent out to those aged 18 and over to find out if adults are being age verified on various sites.

Tomorrow the Prime Minister will announce that every adult will be required to hold a digital ID. This will show whether they are 18 or over and whether they are entitled to work or not.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

The first 7 minutes of this programme features lawyer Matt Johnson who believes that the way in which some websites are implementing the age verification part of the Online Safety Act (OSA) is discriminatory towards visually impaired users (the final 13 minutes of the programme covers the requirement of websites to have policies in place to deal with illegal or harmful content pertaining to the disabled etc).

He is also unhappy that anyone who is critical of the age verification part of the OSA is regarded as someone who simply wants to access erotica when it is, in fact, now required to access some forum discussions:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002htvr

This week's programme for the sight impaired offers some help to those who are having difficulty verifying their age:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002jsqx

[RichardCoulter]

From today Ofcom is able to issue a 'Preserve data notice' to websites. This is to prevent data from being deleted and lost.

This will be invaluable for cases where children have lost their lives and websites are believed to have contributed to or caused this, but the sites either refuse to hand over the data to delay matters or say that it's been deleted.

[nffc]

The OSA is also now responsible for imgur not being available in the UK (without using you know what).

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by nffc

The OSA is also now responsible for imgur not being available in the UK (without using you know what).

That is frankly ridiculous I used the site every so often to host images I posted on certain forums I visit.

[nffc]

Originally Posted by Stephen

That is frankly ridiculous I used the site every so often to host images I posted on certain forums I visit.

Tbf they are very much in scope as users post images for other users and that is high risk in itself. So they need to be age verifying UK users and have probably been caught not doing so, and so just chose to block UK ISPs rather than complying.


Other sites presumably exist but the annoying thing is this happened with basically no notice, so people who had done that couldn't make other arrangements.

Yet another (predictable) consequence of this ridiculously stupid law.
You can bet more will follow suit, the UK will slowly become internet isolated.