Techie Fairy

When platforms are forced to block “anything that might harm kids,” the result is overreach. A real rights-respecting solution to keeping people safe online is one that's built on user control, privacy, and smart design, not censorship. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...

Data Bill: First They Came for Trans People On May 12, the Data (Use and Access) Bill, also known as the UK data protection reform, came back to the House of Lords for what was supposed to be its final stage.

The Data Bill has gone back to Parliament over an amendment for public bodies to record people's “sex at birth”.

This would forcibly out trans people, exposing them to discrimination in data-driven decisions.

It's data protection law without the protection.

www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/data-bi...

UK risks becoming ‘island of strangers’ without more immigration curbs, Starmer says PM unveils policies to ‘significantly’ drive down net migration including English tests and degree requirements

Labour’s plans for immigration will undoubtedly spawn a new wave of hostile environment policies that use digital technology, AI and automated systems to track, surveil and make life-changing decisions about migrants.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Microsoft Recall is here. Turn it off.
vm.tiktok.com/ZNdMuudf5/

The image is a poster with a bold message painted in large, green, brushstroke-style letters on a dark background. It reads: “FIGHT POVERTY NOT THE POOR” The style is raw and expressive, conveying urgency and social activism. At the bottom, it includes the text “Poor People’s Campaign | poorpeoplescampaign.org” and credits the design to Jesse Purcell, 2017.

Sticker on a Tesla: “Vintage Tesla: pre-madness edition”

This one was new to me.

How we use the internet is largely shaped by a handful of US-based tech giants.

US gov't surveillance laws allow them to demand access to your private data without your knowledge or a warrant.

Read the thread below for the list of European alternatives that put your privacy first.

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If you see woke as anything other than “I am now awake to the insane lies I have been brought up with” then you have a 97% chance of being caught up in the propaganda. I’m not blaming you, it’s intense rhetoric being blasted at you for years. It’s ok. We’re here to help

How to Delete Your 23andMe Data This week, the genetic testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy, which means the genetic data the company collected on millions of users is now up for sale. If you don't want your data included in...

23andMe should give every user a real choice to say “no” to a data transfer in this bankruptcy and ensure that any buyer makes real privacy commitments. If you're looking to delete your data and destroy your DNA sample, here's how.

Image: Opt-out toggle with an exit sign icon on the button. Text: Stop Stalker Ads – Opt-out of targeted advertising on Meta. #StopStalkerAds / action.openrightsgroup.org/meta-opt-out

You have a legal right to object to targeted adverts based on your personal data.

Meta should give us options for opting-out of stalker ads. Until they do, you can use our tool to make this request.

Take control of your privacy ✊

Act Now ➡️ action.openrightsgroup.org/meta-opt-out

#StopStalkerAds

When you're thinking about digital security, start with what you want to protect and who you want to protect it from.

There's a guy local to me who's very good. Gareth James, Clockwork Eye Video Productions, Keighley.

www.clockworkeye.co.uk

Hamster forum and local residents’ websites shut down by new internet laws Scope and scale of Online Safety Act likened to China’s ‘great firewall’ as small websites struggle to comply

“The Online Safety Act places onerous duties on small websites and blogs that may lead them to close or geoblock UK users rather than risk penalties.

The Secretary of State can exempt small, safe websites... and protect plurality online."

🗣️ James Baker for ORG.

www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

First Porn, Now Skin Cream? ‘Age Verification’ Bills Are Out of Control I’m old enough to remember when age verification bills were pitched as a way to ‘save the kids from porn’ and shield them from other vague dangers lurking in the digital world (like…“the transgender”)...

No method of age verification is both privacy-protective and entirely accurate. Introducing these laws is dangerous, and expanding them to things like skincare, dating apps, and diet pills has enormous unintended consequences for your personal data.

48 Hours to tell Ofcom: 'Practice safe text' The vital cybersecurity tool of end-to-end encryption is under threat. Here's why: Ofcom are currently running a consultation on their framework for implementing the 'Spy Clause' section 121 of the On...

Do you want hackers and predators to slide into your DMs?

That's what would happen if message scanning tech is forced onto messaging apps.

Ofcom's consultation on powers that'll break end-to-end encryption closes TOMORROW!

Tell them #PracticeSafeText 💬

action.openrightsgroup.org/48-hours-tel...

48 Hours to tell Ofcom: 'Practice safe text' The vital cybersecurity tool of end-to-end encryption is under threat. Here's why: Ofcom are currently running a consultation on their framework for implementing the 'Spy Clause' section 121 of the On...

Carpe DM 👁️‍🗨️?

End-to-end encryption = online safety. It keeps what we send on messaging apps secure from hackers and predators.

🚫 Tell Ofcom NOT to implement message scanning powers in their consultation.

⏰ You have until 5pm TODAY!

#PracticeSafeText 💬

action.openrightsgroup.org/48-hours-tel...

And Happy International Women's Day, again 💪🏻🤘🏻😁 vm.tiktok.com/ZNdeDnJNL/

Happy International Women's Day 😁 vm.tiktok.com/ZNdeU2chY/

Happy St. David's Day to my Welsh skeeters 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

A few practical tips, combined with a cautious outlook, can help you avoid many phishing attacks.