Should we be worried about the online safety act?

[Richard P]

Hello
Just wondering how people feel about the Online Safety Act. The act calls for user created illegal content to be removed and age restricted material needs to have proof of age.
My understanding it applies to any user created content. So forums will be subject to it - like this one! Apparently it applies to all businesses regardless of size. I think if every post is moderated then is ok - but that could be very time consuming and expensive. Failure could land you with an £18 million fine!
What do you think? Would you start a forum with this kind of risk?

 

[fisicx]

It will be toothless. Much like the cookie thing, accessibility and other similar acts.

Not worth getting stressed over.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Very few things on here are incriminating or worse as all users are traceable

 

[WaveJumper]

There's not enough room in the prisons to lock everyone up I don't think they stand a hope in hells chance of policing it now the stable door is open and the horses have bolted.

And after watching my sons 9 month old scroll through his photos on his phone those of a younger age are gonna run circles around us all

 

[DontAsk]

It's complete B******s.

 

[DontAsk]

Unfortunately it's already having the widely foretold chilling effect https://www.techdirt.com/2024/12/20...uks-online-safety-act-is-killing-communities/ 300 on-line communities affected.

 

[japancool]

I fail to see the issue. They chose to shut down even before the legislation came into effect. They haven't seen the effects yet.

I don't know what illegal content they might be hosting.

Age-restricted content, *maybe*.

These people don't *use* the internet, so why would anyone expect them to understand it?

 

[fufuda]

our contents are mostly technologies. we should have no issues.

 

[AmazonGeek]

One unintended consequence...

I had a compatible ink cartridge business competing with Canon, Epson, etc. The big brands realised that they could report competing listings on the grounds that they suspected their IP was being infringed. This wasn't the case but under the OSA, the platform becomes liable once it has been notified of potentially illegal content.

The brands knew that if they raised the possibility of infringement, the platforms wouldn't take the risk and would instead remove the listings. We then had to go back to Canon/Epson, etc for permission to get them reinstated, which of course they ignored.

At one point they were blanket-bombing eBay and Amazon getting all their competitors removed!

 

[eteb3]

The big brands realised that they could report competing listings on the grounds that they suspected their IP was being infringed. This wasn't the case but under the OSA, the platform becomes liable once it has been notified of potentially illegal content.

The brands knew that if they raised the possibility of infringement, the platforms wouldn't take the risk and would instead remove the listings.

I think you should tell your MP and ask them to write to the relevant minister: imo it’s really important government knows what legislation is doing, and there’s every chance this sort of thing won’t come to their attention.

There are often modifications by secondary legislation to adjust things once unintended consequences make themselves known.

 

[antropy]

the platforms wouldn't take the risk

Unfortunately this dynamic happens in many places where there is a greater than zero risk of anything happening, the company affected just bans whatever it is as it has no incentive to take any risk.

Paul.

 

[HFE Signs]

18million fine, good luck to all the adult sites then.

If they really want to protect our kids they should ban all these stupid social video platforms, its those that are doing the damage to the younger generations mental health if you ask me.

 

[eteb3]

18million fine, good luck to all the adult sites then.

If they really want to protect our kids they should ban all these stupid social video platforms

Australia just has, and Labour ministers in the UK have made sympathetic noises.

I completely agree social media generally is massively damaging - Australian govt research suggests it's the algorithm that's the biggest problem, not videos per se.

But so is exposure to porn: 1 in 8 mainstream porn videos depict rape, and something like 60% of children have seen it before age 14. By 18-21, ~80% have seen sexual violence on screen, and 42% say most women enjoy sexual aggression. Young people are deeply mentally distressed. I'm a secondary school teacher: I'm personally convinced porn is a major contributor, given they're coming into their adult bodies and minds. And it must be one of the reasons for the gender confusion of an increasing minority: "If that's what it means to be a woman/man, I'll opt out, thank you very much."

So if OSA kills the porn sites, I shan't be shedding any tears.

 

[antropy]

But so is exposure to porn: 1 in 8 mainstream porn videos depict rape

Have you got any source to back that up because it doesn't sound right to me?

I'm personally convinced porn is a major contributor, given they're coming into their adult bodies and minds. And it must be one of the reasons for the gender confusion of an increasing minority: "If that's what it means to be a woman/man, I'll opt out, thank you very much."

I can't see the link myself.

Paul.

 

[eteb3]

Have you got any source to back that up because it doesn't sound right to me?

World at One - Dominique Pelicot convicted in French mass rape trial - BBC Sounds

Pelicot sentenced for drugging, raping and inviting 50 others to abuse ex-wife Gisele.

www.bbc.co.uk

Listen from 32:45 (or from 32:00 for fuller context). I'll try and find her source direct.

I can't see the link myself.

That's ok, it's rooted in my own experience. When you see a 14yo sexually assaulted and walk off saying "I hate being a girl", it's one way of joining those two dots.

But here's some less anecdotal evidence for it:
House of Commons, Women & Equalities Committee:
Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools, chapter 6 "Tackling the impact of pornography"

See also "Young people's view" page 07, here
Children's Commissioner: Talking to your child about online sexual harassment

On the wider effect of porn on young people:
Government Equalities Office 2020: The relationship between pornography use and harmful sexual behaviours

On what it's like being a young person these days:
Ofsted 2021: Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges

 

[japancool]

18million fine, good luck to all the adult sites then.

If they really want to protect our kids they should ban all these stupid social video platforms, its those that are doing the damage to the younger generations mental health if you ask me.

Well, we shall see. Australia is about to do exactly that - the results will be interesting.

 

[antropy]

World at One - Dominique Pelicot convicted in French mass rape trial - BBC Sounds

Pelicot sentenced for drugging, raping and inviting 50 others to abuse ex-wife Gisele.

www.bbc.co.uk

Listen from 32:45 (or from 32:00 for fuller context). I'll try and find her source direct.

You're right, they do say that but I don't believe it.

The other links seem to support your concerns.

Paul.