Online Safety Bill Etc

[Itshim]

Vote reform , said they will scrap the bill.

[Stephen]

Never vote reform.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by Itshim

Vote reform , said they will scrap the bill.

Problem with Reform is that if elected , their representatives run away/resign/ are found to have a dodgy past. When they actually have to do something is where it falls down.
https://hopenothate.org.uk/2025/06/1...-in-six-weeks/

[Taf]

...

Originally Posted by peanut

"VPNs top App Store charts as Online Safety Act age checks kick in" - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn72ydj70g5o

Instead of protecting kids, it's peeing off every adult. VPNs will just be the norm and then they'll be less protection. Those that give details out will probably end up subjected to some hack/leak of some kind. All this for what? And at what cost, apart from looking like a dictatorship country and a laughing stock.

As of this evening, 5 of the top 10 are still VPNs.

https://appfigures.com/top-apps/imes...om/top-overall

Number 5 is Yoti, a digital ID app. But Proton VPN has knocked ChatGPT off the top spot.

Opera browser (with VPN) is in at number 16.

A couple of things here.

Firstly, if you are downloading a VPN to bypass age checks, you are clearly not "accidentally" coming across anything, you are making a choice to view it.

Secondly, you dont, of course, actually need a VPN - for web sites a simple proxy server will do the trick, I've run one of my own for many many years.

[Anonymouse]

DISCLAIMER (with which I will always lead on a political thread): I DO NOT INTEND TO DISAPPEAR FROM PUBLIC VIEW IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

This is in case Echelon is reading - hi there! AI yet? That's next in UK-grad a.k.a. Airstrip One, Oceania, isn't it?

I really wish governments, especially our version of Miniluv, saw 1984 as the satire and warning it was meant to be, and not as a bloody instruction manual.

One odd thing: a mate of mine who browses porn sites (MetArt and the like, plus he has what is currently a preference but might be developing into a fetish on We Are Hairy) hasn't reported any changes. He tells me he subscribes on an annual basis, not a VPN in sight. So are they taking his credit card as ID?

Before you ask, he has a girlfriend - who in fact approves of these sites, as many of their photographers are women. Plus they tend to give her ideas...of which she has plenty already.

Labour (and the Tories, with whom it originated) have really shot themselves in the foot this time. If there's anything guaranteed to get Reform in, it's repealing the OSA.

If they do, if/when they get in. They say they will, but...

"How can you tell when our network president is lying?
His lips move."

- Max Headroom

Perhaps closer to the truth than we thought.

[tweetiepooh]

Originally Posted by Chris

As of this evening, 5 of the top 10 are still VPNs.

https://appfigures.com/top-apps/imes...om/top-overall

Number 5 is Yoti, a digital ID app. But Proton VPN has knocked ChatGPT off the top spot.

Opera browser (with VPN) is in at number 16.

Why do you let the kids have the ability to install stuff (without your consent)? It is not difficult to lock down the phone before you give it to your kids, no purchasing, no installing, lock down some settings. You can get more or less draconian as they demonstrate their trustworthiness.
At home you set the internet to block porn or other topics, routers will often now have parental/access controls available.
Yes these do require parents to be parents, to take a little time to learn something but it's their kids they are wanting to protect.

[Taf]

I've just been confronted by a message on YouTube.

"Take a few minutes to verify your age
Please provide more info so we can make sure you're old enough to view this video"

"If you are in Australia, the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, or the United Kingdom, you may be asked to verify your age to watch age-restricted videos.

If you’re in the EU, EEA, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom
In line with the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), you may be asked to verify your date of birth to watch age-restricted videos. AVMSD covers all audiovisual media, including video sharing platforms.

Follow the prompts to submit an image of a valid ID or credit card. Learn more about how age verification works.

If you’re in Australia
You may be asked to verify your date of birth to watch age-restricted videos. This added step is informed by the Australian Online Safety (Restricted Access Systems) Declaration. The declaration requires platforms to take reasonable steps to confirm users are adults in order to access content that is potentially inappropriate for viewers under 18.

Follow the prompts to submit an image of a valid driver’s license, Proof of Age card, or passport. Learn more about how age verification works."

---------- Post added at 11:30 ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 ----------

"The Act....... obliges large social media platforms not to remove, and to preserve access to, journalistic or "democratically important" content such as user comments on political parties and issues."

"The Daily Telegraph reported in July 2025 that Wikipedia may restrict access for UK users if the government insists on full compliance. Observers note that such an outcome would be unprecedented in a liberal democracy and could set a damaging global precedent for restricting access to open knowledge."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_Safety_Act_2023

[RichardCoulter]

Yes, various other countries are bringing in similar legislation. Something to think about when deciding which country to use for a VPN.

[Carth]

Time to invest money in the Post Office, letters will be making a come back once the interweb is closed down

[Mr K]

It's far from perfect, and easily got around, but if it makes it less likely the youngest of kids view this stuff, then its got to be an improvement.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Yes, various other countries are bringing in similar legislation. Something to think about when deciding which country to use for a VPN.

Ultimately it shouldnt really matter what server you connect to for a VPN. If there is an issue just change server to another country.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Mr K

It's far from perfect, and easily got around, but if it makes it less likely the youngest of kids view this stuff, then its got to be an improvement.

Nonsense. The parents are responsible for ensuring young children do not have access to these sites.

The older kids will get around this anyway, and subject themselves to even worse material. Many of us on here warned of this long ago.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Yes, various other countries are bringing in similar legislation. Something to think about when deciding which country to use for a VPN.

While in France, l was connected to a server in vella, could the search engine be avoiding using France.?