Key Points
Back then, three prime ministers ago, the billor at least the white paper that would form its basisoutlined an approach that recognized that social media platforms were already de facto arbiters of what was acceptable speech on large parts of the internet, but that this was a responsibility they didnt necessarily want and werent always capable of discharging..
Some of the more nuanced principles around the harms caused by legal but harmful content have been watered down, and added in is a highly divisive requirement for messaging platforms to scan users messages for illegal material, such as child sexual abuse material, which tech companies and privacy campaigners say is an unwarranted attack on encryption...
The act includes strict rules forcing platforms to move swiftly to remove any illegal postsuch as terrorist content or child sexual abuse materialbut not on disinformation campaigns comprised of a drip-drip of misleading content, failing to understand that when that turns into things going viral and spreading, then the harm can occur cumulatively...
Under the Act, bigger platforms will be expected to police potentially harmful, but not illegal, content by applying their own standards more consistently than they currently dosomething that free-speech campaigners have decried as giving private companies control over whats acceptable discourse online, but which some experts on dis- and misinformation say is a cop-out that means Big Tech will be less accountable for spreading falsehoods..
Its the new GDPR, she says.. By far the most divisive clause out of the more than 300 pages of the Online Safety Act is Section 122, which has been widely interpreted as compelling companies to scan users messages to make sure that they arent transmitting illegal material..
You might be interested in
The UK’s Controversial Online Safety Act Is Now Law
26, Oct, 23The UK government says its Online Safety Act will protect people, particularly children, on the internet. Critics say it’s ineffective against dangerous misinformation and may be a threat to privacy.
Online Safety Bill: divisive internet rules become law
27, Oct, 23The legislation requires firms to remove illegal content but has attracted privacy concerns.
Sweeping New Powers Could Let the UK Block Big Tech Platforms
09, Nov, 23Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has released its first set of proposed rules under a new online safety law, with strict penalties for noncompliance.
Facebook, YouTube to Face New Rules Under Canada Online Law
27, Feb, 24Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government introduced an online safety law in Canada, joining European countries in trying to compel internet companies to actively regulate and remove harmful content.
The speech police are coming for social media
30, May, 23Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are in the firing line
Explained | Why is WhatsApp threatening to leave the U.K.?
14, Mar, 23What is the United Kingdom’s proposed Online Safety Bill? Does it mandate a removal of end-to-end encryption? How have other messaging platforms reacted? Did Whatsapp leave or threaten to leave India when a similar rule was notified?
The UK Is Poised to Force a Bad Law on the Internet
26, Sep, 23WhatsApp and Signal have threatened to shut down services in Britain if the Online Safety Bill includes restrictions that undermine encryption. The government is pushing it through anyway.
Meta to end news access for Canadians if online news act becomes law
12, Mar, 23Meta's move comes after Google last month started testing limited news censorship as a potential response to the bill.
WhatsApp, Signal and other chiefs write an open letter slamming the UK's online safety bill. Full text here
18, Apr, 23The letter dated April 17, 2023 has been signed by CEOs and CTOs of other social media companies. They are Matthew Hodgson, CEO, Element, Alex Linton, Director, OPTF/Session, Meredith Whittaker, President, Signal, Martin Blatter, CEO, Threema, Ofir Eyal, CEO, Viber and Alan Duric, CTO, Wire.
WhatsApp and other messaging apps oppose UK’s move on encryption
19, Apr, 23Britain's Online Safety Bill was originally designed to create one of the toughest regimes for regulating platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.