It is no exaggeration to say that the Online Safety Act, 2023 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50) & (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer) has become somewhat controversial!
In particular much discussion (some of it quite heated) has been around what is called “social media” and in particular the online social media platform “X” formerly “Twitter”.
There have been many reports of outraged internet users coming across the notice in the image below.
There is much talk (including the BG https://british-gazette.com/going-down-the-rabbit-hole/ & https://british-gazette.com/the-online-safety-act/) about the surge in VPNs to get around the provisions of the act and discussion about the potential of HMG banning or restricting the use of VPNs.
HOWEVER: The Act’s restrictions can be circumvented entirely (in the case of “X” formerly “Twitter”) by purchase of a subscription service called X Premium (https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-premium).
NB: The minimum age to use X (formerly Twitter) and subscribe to X Premium is 13 years old, according to X Help Center. This requirement applies globally, but in some European countries, parental consent may be required for users under 18. according to X Help Center. Parental Consent: In some European countries, users between 13 and 17 may need parental or legal guardian consent to have an X account. (Source Google’s AI).
You see those who placed the Online Safety Act on the statute book claim that the purpose of the act is to “protect children”. Well, the primarily duty holders for this are the child’s parents and/or guardians!
Thus we have a apparently legal “work around” to the Online Safety Act – insofar as “X” formerly “Twitter” is concerned.
Of course there is a danger that Stasi Starmer will set his sights beyond the large “social media” platforms and begin to view what some call the “blog-o-sphere” where sits the BG and myriad other blogs!
This is concerning for Two Tier Keir will use the same child protection argument as justification for the crackdown. The problem here is that whilst large organisations like “X” formerly “Twitter” have the resources to comply with the act’s requirements many/most bloggers do not!