Arr, be it the death o' the internet as we be knowin' it? The Online Safety Bill hath been duly bestowed Royal Assent!
2023-10-27
Arr! Ye swashbucklin' tech scallywags be raisin' the alarm 'pon the UK's assault on encryption! They be warnin' about the dire consequences fer privacy and free speech. Here be all the scuttlebutt ye need to know, mateys!
The Online Safety Bill, a controversial piece of legislation, has finally received Royal Assent, officially making it law. The bill aims to make the UK the safest place to be online, especially for children, by holding tech firms accountable for the content on their platforms. However, critics argue that it could increase government surveillance and censorship while compromising privacy.The bill grants new powers and obligations for social media platforms and digital services, including protecting children from harmful content and enforcing age limits. Tech firms are required to remove illegal content, with penalties for noncompliance including fines and prison time. However, experts fear that the bill undermines online safety by threatening encryption.
One contentious provision allows the government to access, collect, and read users' conversations to search for illegal materials. Tech experts argue that this compromises privacy and sets a dangerous precedent. The government has postponed the implementation of this provision until it is technically feasible.
Messaging platforms like Signal and WhatsApp have threatened to leave the UK market if they are forced to spy on user conversations. Companies like Proton, which offer security software based on encryption, are also prepared to fight for their users' privacy in court.
The CEO of Element, a UK-based encrypted messaging platform, is discussing adding clauses to contracts to ensure scanning software is not integrated into their software. These added clauses highlight the impracticality of the bill on encryption.
Overall, while the Online Safety Bill aims to protect children and combat harmful content online, it has raised concerns about government surveillance, censorship, and the undermining of encryption.