Online Safety Bill

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by jfman

An idea so bad OB and I agree.

It's completely unenforceable at that level.

I don't support the idea - and I know it won't happen - but from a tech perspective the idea that manufacturers will develop different product lines for the under 16s of the UK is wild. In reality (if such a bad idea were to happen) it's giving big tech companies biometric data and having differentiated services available on the device depending on who is logged in.

The entire population won't sign up to that, nor sign their children up to that. I recognise that a significant proportion of the population (myself included) do use fingerprint or facial recognition to unlock devices but the idea it would become mandatory is quite objectionable.

I remember people on here saying that the Online Safety Act would never pass into law. I urged people to put their objections forward to the consultation, but only one person confirmed that they had done so.

I've no idea if the Online Safety Bill will be amended to take account of this, my salient point is that it has been the subject of discussion every day since the petition was started. Most petitions don't get this much attention or coverage.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I remember people on here saying that the Online Safety Act would never pass into law. I urged people to put their objections forward to the consultation, but only one person confirmed that they had done so.

I've no idea if the Online Safety Bill will be amended to take account of this, my salient point is that it has been the subject of discussion every day since the petition was started. Most petitions don't get this much attention or coverage.

The Online Safety Act that does what exactly? White noise in a void from a toothless regulator ill equipped to handle global platforms.

I'm not sure anyone stated it would never pass. However, it was massively watered down to get there to the point of irrelevance.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by jfman

The Online Safety Act that does what exactly? White noise in a void from a toothless regulator ill equipped to handle global platforms.

I'm not sure anyone stated it would never pass. However, it was massively watered down to get there to the point of irrelevance.

I only recall the legal but harmful provision being dropped (for adults, it still exists for children).

Ofcom is in the process of prioritising internet safety for children, other vulnerable groups will be dealt with after this is complete (but complaints can still be made now for investigation later).

[jfman]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I only recall the legal but harmful provision being dropped (for adults, it still exists for children).

Ofcom is in the process of prioritising internet safety for children, other vulnerable groups will be dealt with after this is complete (but complaints can still be made now for investigation later).

And if Ofcom have a yawn, a fart of just feel a bit unsteady. How does that become the law of the land?

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

My scheme? What are you talking about?
It's not me that started the petition.

There was a phone in today and every parent and expert that rang in supported the idea, with some suggesting that U16's should only be allowed to have a basic/dumb phone.

Some seemed to think it's a good idea as it would restrict screen time as opposed to social media. Some thought that a better idea would be to ban U16's from social media instead.

I know you didn’t start this, Richard, but you certainly seemed to me to be promoting it, which is why I said ‘your scheme’.

It’s always possible for broadcasters to find a small minority who support something the vast number of people don’t. They do it all the time, particularly the BBC, which has lost all its credibility as far as I’m concerned.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I know you didn’t start this, Richard, but you certainly seemed to me to be promoting it, which is why I said ‘your scheme’.

It’s always possible for broadcasters to find a small minority who support something the vast number of people don’t. They do it all the time, particularly the BBC, which has lost all its credibility as far as I’m concerned.

A variety of radio & TV broadcasters as well as newspapers have been covering this.

As i've already said, this won't affect me personally at all either way. My only interest in this is keeping abreast of developments intended to keep children safe online.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

A variety of radio & TV broadcasters as well as newspapers have been covering this.

As i've already said, this won't affect me personally at all either way. My only interest in this is keeping abreast of developments intended to keep children safe online.

I think we all want to keep children safe, but this is not the way.

[RichardCoulter]

Channel 5 had an item on the Jeremy Vain programme earlier about bereaved parents joining forces against online harm. It's shocking that online bullies have been allowed to bully both children and adults with their relentless harrassment that is purposely designed to belittle, upset and humiliate to the point of suicide.

Apparently, this is the subject of a current storyline in Coronation Street.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Channel 5 had an item on the Jeremy Vain programme earlier about bereaved parents joining forces against online harm. It's shocking that online bullies have been allowed to bully both children and adults with their relentless harrassment that is purposely designed to belittle, upset and humiliate to the point of suicide.

Apparently, this is the subject of a current storyline in Coronation Street.

Happy to be corrected but if it upsets you , can't you switch off/ block or just ignore it

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Channel 5 had an item on the Jeremy Vain programme earlier about bereaved parents joining forces against online harm. It's shocking that online bullies have been allowed to bully both children and adults with their relentless harrassment that is purposely designed to belittle, upset and humiliate to the point of suicide.

Apparently, this is the subject of a current storyline in Coronation Street.

Before it was on line it was in the school yard or at work, they never managed to stop it there when they could see it going on, so how will this magic process work when they already know it can be circumnavigated by even the least technology minded user who just gets a vpn or buys a phone on ebay and swaps the sim in the "child phone" into the "adult phone". Lets face it phone companies will not make special phone for this they will just sell the same phone with different firmware and call it a "child phone". There could even be a blackmarket of "Adult phones for sale in school playgrounds by the local money savey kids .Then the child will go to a pc search for "how to route my child phone and update with adult firmware. I have a grandson who would be able to do that even if he is 8 years old. He's a clever lad already

My point is you put a child phone in the hands of a child and they will see it as a challenge to upgrade it.

[mrmistoffelees]

https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/...or_encryption/

Well well

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/...or_encryption/

Well well

Indeed the supporters of forcing backdoors on providers will be crying in their hot milk.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Before it was on line it was in the school yard or at work, they never managed to stop it there when they could see it going on, so how will this magic process work when they already know it can be circumnavigated by even the least technology minded user who just gets a vpn or buys a phone on ebay and swaps the sim in the "child phone" into the "adult phone". Lets face it phone companies will not make special phone for this they will just sell the same phone with different firmware and call it a "child phone". There could even be a blackmarket of "Adult phones for sale in school playgrounds by the local money savey kids .Then the child will go to a pc search for "how to route my child phone and update with adult firmware. I have a grandson who would be able to do that even if he is 8 years old. He's a clever lad already

My point is you put a child phone in the hands of a child and they will see it as a challenge to upgrade it.

Responsibile parents will do spot checks to check if this has been or is being done and apply appropriately sanctions for this behaviour.

For children of less responsibile parents who know how to circumvent the law and are prepared to be disobedient, I agree that it's unlikely they will be caught unless serious consequences arise as a result of their law breaking, where their phones will be forensically analysed.

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Responsibile parents will do spot checks to check if this has been or is being done and apply appropriately sanctions for this behaviour.

For children of less responsibile parents who know how to circumvent the law and are prepared to be disobedient, I agree that it's unlikely they will be caught unless serious consequences arise as a result of their law breaking, where their phones will be forensically analysed.

That's the post of the week even possibly the year. I'll be chuckling for days.

Children who are prepared to be disobedient … perish the thought. I’ve never met one of those