18 days ago: “The main change is only for users in the UK. Version 1.105 introduces legally-required Age Assurance for users in the United Kingdom to access certain moderation settings and DMs”
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114394
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #bluesky #censorship #surveillance #vpn

Social media giants face fines for curbing free speech | Telegraph
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114391
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #surveillance #vpn #westminster

The right to privacy is essential to a healthy democracy.

If we do not fight for the former,
we will also lose the latter.

How I believe Terry Pratchett would likely view those activists who promote Age Verification to support the Online Safety Act
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114357
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #TerryPratchett #censorship #surveillance #vpn

#ukpol #ageverification

https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/could-vpns-be-banned-uk-government-to-look-very-closely-into-their-usage-amid-mass-usage-since-the-age-verification-row

Oh this is glorious: Journalist @zoecrowther.bsky.social using Bluesky seeks DMs from people impacted by the Online Safety Act… but impacted people cannot use DM on Bluesky
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114348
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #bluesky #censorship #surveillance #vpn

“If Ofcom decides that Wikipedia is not a Category 1 service, then no further issue will arise” | …Wikipedia OSA Judgement kicked into the long grass
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114340
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #anonymity #censorship #surveillance #wikipedia

50K #YouTubers rage against #AI #spying that could expose identities

On Tuesday, a Change.org #petition rapidly neared its 50,000 signature goal, with tens of thousands hoping that with enough users protesting, the wide rollout of the AI age checks might be stopped. They fear the age checks will make it harder to access content they love while staying #anonymous on the platform
#privacy #ageverification #youtube #surveillance

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/08/50k-youtubers-rage-against-ai-spying-that-could-expose-identities/

Chris Stokel-Walker at the Guardian on issues with the Online Safety Act
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114330
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #surveillance #vpn

#Wikipedia loses #UK #SafetyAct challenge, worries it will have to verify user IDs

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/08/wikipedia-loses-uk-safety-act-challenge-worries-it-will-have-to-verify-user-ids/

“Does requiring a law abiding internet user to dox themselves … prevent [badness]?”
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114277
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #PrestonByrne #censorship #surveillance #vpn

Excellent thread by @rcolvile (unrolled from Twitter) re: Westminster-native appeals to let the OSA “bed-in” because “early days”
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114276
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #surveillance #vpn

Online Safety Act – shutdowns and site blocks | Open Rights Group
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114272
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #blocked #censorship #surveillance #vpn

Today in “…just wait until the UK Ofcom censors find out that you can talk to AI Chatbots over DNS…”
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114264
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #ai #censorship #llm #ofcom #surveillance #vpn

Age Verification Providers’ Association now imagines it’s incumbent for platforms (i.e. everybody) to treat TCP connections which may be inbound from a VPN as “potential children”
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114258
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #avpa #censorship #surveillance #vpn

Blocking Access to Harmful Content Will Not Protect Children Online, No Matter How Many Times UK Politicians Say So | EFF
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114251
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #eff #surveillance #vpn

Petition:

“YouTube - SAY NO TO FLAWED AGE VERIFICATIONS!”

https://chng.it/JCFssrt7dj
#youtube #ageverification

Americans, Be Warned: Lessons From Reddit’s Chaotic UK Age Verification Rollout | EFF
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114250
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #eff #surveillance #vpn

There are many reasons to criticise the OnlineSafetyAct but the bizarre Ofcom approach to AgeVerification demanding vast proliferation of personal information rather than obligatory acceptance of a validated credential, defies belief & exceeds all other failures
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114220
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #ofcom #surveillance #vpn