TZUTC: -0500
MSGID: 1315.consprcy@1:2320/105 2cf1ecda
PID: Synchronet 3.21a-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0
TID: SBBSecho 3.28-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0
BBSID: CAPCITY2
CHRS: ASCII 1
FORMAT: flowed
'No plans to repeal the Online Safety Act'  UK government responds to age
verification backlash

Date:
Fri, 01 Aug 2025 08:09:35 +0000

Description:
Opposition to the UK's Online Safety Act is growing as age verification rules
come into force, but the government isn't backing down.

FULL STORY

The UK government says it has no plans to repeal the Online Safety Act, as
opposition to it grows in the wake of the introduction of online age
verification checks. 

A petition calling on the government to scrap the Act has amassed over 
450,000 signatures in just a few days. While the Act became law in 2023, the
backlash has been sparked by the recent introduction of age verification
checks for users of many websites. 

From July 25, Britons need to go through robust mandatory age checks in order
to access adult-only websites and any potentially harmful content online. 

While the government says the laws are intended to protect both children and
adults who use the internet, critics argue that they have serious 
implications for people's privacy, online security, free speech, and access 
to information.

The UK Parliament must consider a debate on any petition that gets more than
100,000 signatures. However, responding to the petition, the UK's Department
for Science, Innovation, and Technology said: "The Government has no plans to
repeal the Online Safety Act, and is working closely with Ofcom to implement
the Act as quickly and effectively as possible to enable UK users to benefit
from its protections." 

It added: "The Government will continue to work with Ofcom towards the full
implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023, including monitoring
proportionate implementation."

What's behind the age verification backlash? 

The Online Safety Act is aimed at making the internet a safer place,
especially for children. But many online privacy advocates and security
experts fear that the age verification measures in particular may end up 
doing more harm than good. 

You now need to scan your face, a credit card, or an identity document if you
want to access certain content on X, Reddit, or Bluesky in the UK, and the
same applies if you want to play a new over-18 video game, find a new match 
on a dating app, or watch a video reserved for adults only. Those platforms
have to partner with third-party age verification services to implement
checks. 

Leaks, abuse, and misuse of data are just some of the risks linked to the 
mass data collection that age verification checks involve. Some commentators
also fear that age-blocking certain content that's deemed harmful could lead
to limitations on free speech and access to information. 

"While the intent to protect kids is understandable, the execution raises
serious concerns around privacy, censorship, and, functionally, whether it
even works," Yegor Sak, co-founder and CEO of Canada-based Windscribe VPN ,
told TechRadar.

Such concerns have led thousands of people to turn to a virtual private
network (VPN) as a way to safeguard their sensitive information. Proton VPN ,
for example, recorded an hourly increase of over 1,400% starting at midnight
on July 25. 

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/no-plans-to-repeal-the-onli
ne-safety-act-uk-government-responds-to-age-verification-backlash

$$
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
 * Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)
SEEN-BY: 105/81 106/201 128/187 129/14 305 153/7715 154/110 218/700
SEEN-BY: 226/30 227/114 229/110 111 206 300 307 317 400 426 428 664
SEEN-BY: 229/700 705 266/512 291/111 320/219 322/757 342/200 396/45
SEEN-BY: 460/58 712/848 902/26 2320/0 105 304 3634/12 5075/35
PATH: 2320/105 229/426