The UK government wants to implement 'online safety laws' to regulate the internet

[Polycount]

The internet has always been a bit of a wild place. For many users, this is a good thing - due to the relatively unbiased nature of search engine and social media algorithms, virtually any website or social media post can gain widespread attention if it captures the interest of enough users.

However, this is a double-edged sword at times. Livestreams of violent acts and other illegal content appear throughout the internet on a fairly regular basis. As you might expect given their massive userbases, companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook have struggled to police user-submitted content.

According to a press release issued by the UK government, "six in ten people" say they've witnessed inappropriate or harmful content online, and "four in ten people" say they've experienced online abuse.

UK Digital Secretary Matt Hancock feels the "Wild West" nature of the internet is dangerous and in need of heavier regulation. As such, the country will introduce new online safety laws to protect users.

Hancock gave the following statement regarding the upcoming legislation:

People increasingly live their lives through online platforms so it’s more important than ever that people are safe and parents can have confidence they can keep their children from harm. The measures we’re taking forward today will help make sure children are protected online and balance the need for safety with the great freedoms the internet brings just as we have to strike this balance offline.

In the aforementioned press release, the UK government said the upcoming legislation will aim to protect children from exploitation, prevent cyberbullying, and stop online terrorism.

Specifics regarding how these laws might be implemented are scarce. The categories of harm the government hopes to address with these laws are somewhat broad and might lead to future censorship concerns.

Regardless, a White Paper laying out the planned legislation will be published later this year, so we won't have to wait long to find out what the UK is planning.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/74726-uk-government-wants-use-online-safety-laws-regulate.html

 

[ForgottenLegion]

One step closer to the UK depicted in V for Vendetta.

 

[mcborge]

This is all about control, nothing more. The "we know what's good for you" mantra is only ever good for the ones in power and never the rest of us.

 

[SirChocula]

Hegelian Dialectic: a simple yet effective method of control for the masses that is utilized heavily in geopolitics.

First: create a problem; indoctrinate young naive college minds with propaganda about "equality" through "social justice", give the SWJ a voice for their "oppression", let in massive waves of rapefugees whose culture is incompatible with the West. Create conflict with these subgroups with the normal population and claim rational normal people are "racist", "xenophobic", insert other identity political terms here. Propagate this nonsense through social media, entertainment, and mainstream "news".

Second: propose a solution (this censorship) under the guise of "protection" from "cyberbullies" and "terrorism".

Third: incite fear into the public's psyche so the sheep will willingly vote to be locked in their own prison...on their own land. Gain absolute control.

Peaceful times breed weak men...the strong men, who fought and died for our rights are turning in their graves seeing these pink haired, skinny jean wearing hipsters, vote for the death of their rights, freedom, and their country.

 

[Danny101]

The U.K. isn't much different than Soviet Russia these days.

 

[treetops]

Cyber bulling was the norm and not a big deal until social media. It was a anonymous hatred, that didn't involve people you see everyday.... They should make a legal age for social media of 18. Kids don't need that extra stress. They need to just be kids. Also cell phones should not be allowed at schools unless they are being used to make a phone call. We weren't allowed to bust out a gameboy between classes the same principle applies.

 

[Thorney]

Treetops that is one of the best posts ever. The day everyone starting using their real names on the internet was when things went downhill. I used to get in some massive arguments and get a lot of abuse but although it did upset you a little, nobody was real, you didn't know where they lived, they didn't know you really so it was easy to shrug off. Yes and kids should hand in their phones when they enter the school and if the use them during class, the school, should keep the until end of term that would do it

Sadly parents woudl blame the school and not their precious cherubs and complain if this happened.

 

[Bubbajim]

The U.K. isn't much different than Soviet Russia these days.

That's a bit OTT.

But Matt Hancock is just butthurt that none of the big social media companies turned up to a meeting he requested so now he's yammering on about legislation.

The main problem for him is that he has absolutely no idea what that legislation would look like, or do. He'd maybe want to copy Germany's silly '24 hour' law, but even that's being revisited because it's - and no one saw this coming - stifling free speech and free expression. Who'da thunk!

Most depressingly of all though is that I'm sure when the draconian bill gets going, there will barely be a blip of public outcry. I guarantee most people just shrug and allow another curbing of free expression just pass into law unhindered.

 

[senketsu]

The U.K. isn't much different than Soviet Russia these days.

You might want to look up some historical figures like Josef Stalin and read Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's "The Gulag Archipelago" before making statements like that.

 

[VEEJER1]

"This is all about control, nothing more. The "we know what's good for you" mantra is only ever good for the ones in power and never the rest of us"

Yup this excuse will only be the start of gagging us.

“I always wondered what it would feel like to be suffocated by the sort of state intrusion that citizens are subjected to in places like China, Russia and Iran. I guess we’re all about to find out.”
These new laws will probably boast some of the most invasive surveillance laws we’ve ever seen, including bulk data collection, the forced surveillance of personal devices (in extreme cases) and the ability to even control those devices if possible, and people will still vote for the Tories, talk about cutting of your own neck, eh!!

 

[mcborge]

"This is all about control, nothing more. The "we know what's good for you" mantra is only ever good for the ones in power and never the rest of us"

Yup this excuse will only be the start of gagging us.

“I always wondered what it would feel like to be suffocated by the sort of state intrusion that citizens are subjected to in places like China, Russia and Iran. I guess we’re all about to find out.”
These new laws will probably boast some of the most invasive surveillance laws we’ve ever seen, including bulk data collection, the forced surveillance of personal devices (in extreme cases) and the ability to even control those devices if possible, and people will still vote for the Tories, talk about cutting of your own neck, eh!!

Well said.

 

[captaincranky]

It's really a blessing that an American biracial woman was permitted to join the House of Windsor. this since the royals are getting too far inbred, with the courts and legislature following in hot pursuit.

Gone are the days when, "the sun never set on the British Empire". Now they don't even even control the majority of Ireland.

With that out of the way, this latest crap out of the British government, is in a long line of ever more petty and restrictive edicts, which place the people of Great Britain on a par which the liberties enjoyed by those in the People's Republic of China.. (And even they don't have the oppressive copyright restrictions as enjoyed by the Brits (AFAIK)).

Not that that the British commoners aren't any less inbred, and striving to be as politically correct as it they were were of royal descent,.

They've now taken to modifying the ending of common fairy tales, for less scary, and to reflect more "contemporary mores".

For example, the Brits are changing the ending of "Sleeping Beauty", because the Prince", "doesn't ask her permission before he kisses her". If this asininity doesn't qualify as "Orwellian Newspeak", I haven't the foggiest idea what would.

Don't believe me? Here ya go:

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...ding-red-riding-hood-cinderella-a8346966.html

 

[Emexrulsier]

When I was at school we had a saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me".

Far too many people are scared of their own shadow and offended by everything and anyone. You know what happens when you get offended NOTHING.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHMoDt3nSHs

 

[Danny101]

Social justice tactics are the same tactics that the Bolsheviks used when they took over Russia. This is happening in all European countries as well as the United States. It's communism in all it's glory.

 

[Danny101]

Not to leave out South America, too. Social justice is the new communism.