All of these proposals rely on age verification technology, which will not only enforce restriction of children, but affect all users. There are impacts -notably on privacy and security -outside of the prism through which this #socialmediaban legislation is being drafted. @fipr-policy.bsky.social
Lords want a #socialmediaban on all online services covered by the #OnlineSafetyAct in place within 12 months; plus ban extended to children using #VPNs This goes much further than original aim of restricting teens from social media and would affect everyone.
The action is in the Commons - gov't will insist on its amendments, going further than #socialmediaban:
-variable age limits restrict childrens access to features & functionalities according to child’s age/ time of day.
-new measures on grooming, stalking, terrorism video & live video calls
Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Government Amendment 38H extract showing specific restrictions proposed.
UK Parliament will today consider a change in the law paving the way for a so-called #socialmediaban restricting access for children/teens. Debate likely late pm or evening. Two rival sets of amendments tabled in the Commons & the Lords indicate a battle between the two Chambers.
Some thoughts on the reality of banning an online platform based on a few previous attempts iptegrity.com/online-safet...
Unless I am blind, the Consultation [on social media ban for under 16s] is not yet published, but at least the government will be consulting, which matters for good law-making.
Hope you are right. The consultation [on banning <16s from social media] has been announced but not yet published. The Ausssie law was rushed, and is flawed, but we can learn from it. The idea of vpn ban is a wild card.
That's whey I think it's right that the government takes time to consult and to monitor the Australian law before taking a decision. I hope that is what they do.
Ofcom is actually running its own consultation on its workplan, so we can make a recommendation.
Agree with your point, but it's a Lords amendment, the government doesn't have to accept it.
Callout to anyone in #leasehold flats struggling to get #FibreOptic #FTTP #broadband installed. Are you a residents association? Would you be willing to share your experience? What barriers did you face? Would @OpenReach talk to you? #ProjectGigabit @ispreview.bsky.social @cathnlc.bsky.social
Some thoughts on banning a large platform - and what it takes to make it work iptegrity.com/online-safet...
If Ofcom did decide to ban the social media platform X, how would such a ban work? Some thoughts drawn from Internet history...
iptegrity.com/online-safet... @fipr-policy.bsky.social
The #OnlineSafetyAct allows providers to mark their own homework. @ofcom.bsky.social told to kick X into gear, with little effective power. How likely will we see positive action? My take on the policy problem. iptegrity.com/ai/grok-ai-i... @fipr-policy.bsky.social
I am not sure it works in quite that way. Have just posted this analysis. iptegrity.com/ai/grok-ai-i...
If you are following the #UK government stand-off with creatives over #AI scraping and #copyright, here's what it's all about. #artificialintelligence iptegrity.com/ai/copyright...
The Bill being debated was the Data (Use and Access) Bill. Peers voted 3 times for their amendment. It's likely to be rejected again. In the meantime, here is my take on the policy issues around #AI and copyright (published on my own personal website). iptegrity.com/ai/copyright...
Now the government is struggling in the face of a vocal and dramatic campaign by activist peers. Technically, however, the government was correct to reject the #HouseofLords amendments because #copyright does not belong in a Bill on #dataprotection
The Lords have repeatedly tabled an amendment trying to force #transparency requirements onto #LLM developers and the government repeatedly rejected it. The government has been cornered because it has been too slow to legislate on #AI and #copyright, and the creative industries are lobbying hard./2
House of Lords screenshot from 4 June 2025 showing Baroness Kidron advocating for her amendment on AI and copyright to the Data (Use and Access) Bill.
For those who missed it, there's been an astonishing battle over #artificialintelligence #AI and #copyright amendments to a Bill in the UK Parliament this week. In all the years I've been covering #copyrightwars, I haven't seen anything quite like it. #Houseoflords iptegrity.com/ai/copyright...
Will the EU use its "big Bazooka" anti-coercion instrument against Trump tariffs? It could "revoke the protection of intellectual property rights or their commercial exploitation, for example, software downloads and streaming services." This could get lively😮
www.ft.com/content/7303...
Despite the noxious content, you cannot just ban it. A ban must be done by Ofcom who can apply to the courts for a blocking order under its OSA enforcement powers. ECHR Article 10(2) also applies. There are people on X posting lawfully. Suggest check out ECtHr & UK case law esp. on copyright.
This change will be in the US. Here's what is happening to regulate the platforms in the EU. bsky.app/profile/tyli...
Apologies - in my page count, I missed out the Register of Risks - at 480 pages, it takes the total count to 2007 pages./8 😮
Thank you. This is a great resource. Even for us in the UK.
The whole thing is micro-management in extremis. focusses on minutaie, misses strategic aims. No clear narrative. My question to #Ofcom is does anyone really understand what this law is supposed to do? Has anyone got oversight of these documents and how they they knit together? #onlinesafetyact /7
Shows a screenshot from Ofcom's Draft Illegal content codes of practice for user to user services: Safeguards for freedom of expression and privacy.
Freedom of expression and #privacy compliance… the weirdest I’ve ever seen. Who is going to bother de-coding this nonsense? Sorry Ofcom, but words defeat me. #freespeech #onlinesafetyact /6
Technology Notices consultation: S.121 #onlinesafetyact expands #chatcontrol to include terrorism. But risk of #e2ee must be assessed as a factor for a range of illegal activities. Eg sale of illegal goods. Vastly expands scope. Significant changes to the law coming down the line. #ofcom /5
Fees – This one’s a corker. Has been overlooked to date. Are overseas platforms really going to pay #Ofcom fees for the privilege of implementing blocking and filtering measures, with no compensation from HMG for the costs of implementation. Expect cross-border effects. #onlinesafetyact /4