I know what the regulator is trying to achieve with this act, which is sensible. But they way they have gone about it is a classic bag of cack handed public service bureaucracy.
Within hours of the act coming, excuse the pun, into force VPN downloads skyrocketed. Now they have published a list of sites I've never heard of in a press release.
Online Safety Act - EPIC fail
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ShaunWhite
- Posts: 10542
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The assumption seems to be that underage users are flocking to VPNs but I'd have thought it was mostly adults who don't want to give any details, the same attitude as when bookies as for any details.
But I don't see how any govt can restrict access completely unless they go full on Chinese and control all access.
But I don't see how any govt can restrict access completely unless they go full on Chinese and control all access.
Incredibly they listed, in full, nearly 40 sites that did not have blocking controls on them. Full public press release and all!
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jamesedwards
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Top notch advertising for the listed sites! 
This government have gone down alarming authoritarian routes in just 1 year.ShaunWhite wrote: ↑Thu Jul 31, 2025 6:55 pmThe assumption seems to be that underage users are flocking to VPNs but I'd have thought it was mostly adults who don't want to give any details, the same attitude as when bookies as for any details.
But I don't see how any govt can restrict access completely unless they go full on Chinese and control all access.
Not just the Online Safety Act, but also their plans for redefining Islamophobia, which will basically mean nobody would be ever allowed to criticise the actions of Muslims.
Then there is their targeting of hate speech, so people will be arrested for voicing genuine opinions, just because somebody else hated to hear it (which is not the same as hateful content)
Starmer is acting like a Communist.
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jamesedwards
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It's definitely time for a big reset. Can see why Reform are huge favourites. Will be interesting to see how a Reform/Reform-Tory coalition government will play out.
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sionascaig
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The more extreme projections have the conservatives on c40 seats. Maybe Reform won't need them...jamesedwards wrote: ↑Fri Aug 01, 2025 1:28 pmIt's definitely time for a big reset. Can see why Reform are huge favourites. Will be interesting to see how a Reform/Reform-Tory coalition government will play out.
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jamesedwards
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