Jim Killock

"The challenge is not simply to build a “Dutch cloud” or “European #cloud” as nationalistic alternatives, but to develop alternative visions for the role of computing in society that prioritize people over profit maximization," writes @C__CS in this excellent critique of Europe's […]

Palestine Action vulnerable content Please take the time to complete our survey. Your feedback is important.

We need #PalestineAction URLs so we can check and record via archive.org. We need them *before* content is removed.

Here is a form: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/TDUZQS/ #osa #OnlineSafetyAct

Do you or have you ever expressed support for #PalestineAction online? To paraphrase McCarthy.

Is the content still up? We want to monitor takedowns: send us your URLs!
#OnlineSafetyAct #OSA

if you haven't taught someone who is helplessly addicted to LLMs, LLM brain is _so much worse than you can possibly imagine._ the problems i'm seeing from someone i am currently teaching are indistinguishable from illiteracy - this person literally cannot read single-line, fully descriptive […]

Well, quite right too. @JamesBaker points out:

“Using a VPN reduces your] risk of being blackmailed over a data leak from an age assurance provider”. #onlinesafetyact [#osa

Britain’s MPs charge VPNs to expenses as minister urges caution Technology Secretary Peter Kyle appeared to suggest that VPN use could put children at risk.

Oh look, MPs are claiming for VPNs on their expenses. #onlinesafetyact

https://www.politico.eu/article/britain-mps-charge-vpns-expenses-minister-caution-tech-jonathan-reynolds-data/

@jim One step away from making NordVPN and SurfShark proscribed organisations, whereupon Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart will be dragged away like eighty year old grannies who care about genocide.

I am continually laughing at AI people writing these multiple paragraphs long prompts to try to get the AI to do what they want it to.

Motherfucker, that's a PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE!

My Online Safety Act isn’t the problem, Labour is For this law to work, the Government must step up and defend free speech instead of hiding behind regulators

Oh dear.

Don't blame us, blame them, for the #OnelineSafetyAct whinges Conservative ex Minister.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/31/my-online-safety-act-isnt-the-problem-labour-is/

This from #Ofcom is nonsense. It is not websites that are causing VPN usage to skyrocket, it is government incompetence.

Perhaps Ofcom should fine Peter Kyle and the government for promoting VPNs. #onlinesafetyact […]

This from #Ofcom is nonsense. It is not websites that are causing VPN usage to skyrocket, it is government incompetence.

Perhaps Ofcom should fine Peter Kyle and the government for promoting VPNs […]

DID YOU VERIFY AN YOUR AGE ON A WEBSITE? THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T DO ANY CHECKS ON THE COMPANIES PROVIDING AGE VERIFICATION SERVICES AND IN MANY CASES PERSONAL DATA WAS LOST, STOLEN OR SOLD ON THE BLACK MARKET. CALL NOW TO START YOUR NO WIN NO FEE CLAIM! 01234 567890

Do something about it here: https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-your-mp-online-safety-act-isn%E2%80%99t-working

#ageverification #onlinesafetyact (Via x, still good something once in a while.)

Zuckerberg: AI increased the time spent on Facebook and Instagram in Q2 https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/30/zuckerberg-ai-increased-the-time-spent-on-facebook-and-instagram-in-q2/

@jim The suggestion that #VPNs should be banned is absolutely appalling. I hope @thegreenparty will join the #LibDems in opposing this, & other aspects of the #OSA which threaten #privacy, particularly of young #LGBTI people seeking #information about #sex & #relationships, which is by no means […]

#Libdems opposition to the #onlinesafetyact is beginning to snowball

Quite rightly, they are asking for suspension and a rethink.

Where is the opposition within Labour, Jeremy Corbyn's new grouping and the UK Green Parties? I hope they can also speak out against this car crash […]

Finally the idea that #dataprotection is sufficient for #ageverification is unfortunately incorrect. DP is permissive and it gets enforced when it goes wrong, and in the UK rarely if ever otherwise. We cannot have AV data getting leaked and abused.

We also need to be deeply concerned about the way laws interact, such as the #PalestineAction proscription. Platforms are now obliged under the #onlinesafetyact to remove this "terrorist content". How then do they protect free speech, in the face of this clear duty?

the mechanisms to protect free expression are really weak, except in the case of "journalistic content".

The duties for takedown however are very strong, and clear. The duties to ensure children do not encounter are clear.

Unfortunately this leads to a one way street.

Yes there are clauses about duties to protect free expression, and IIRC clauses saying they should follow their terms and conditions, BUT

On #Skynews just now debating about the #onlinesafetyact; there seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding even among former minister that there is any serious kind of free expression protections in the Act.

Full letter is now published here https://www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/wyden-dni-followup-uk-surveillance_002pdf.pdf #IPAct #encryption

@je5perl This could be related: https://www.euractiv.com/section/tech/news/commissions-guidelines-for-online-child-safety-target-platforms-of-all-sizes/ (via @mmasnick )

This contrasts with #WhatsApp who say they have not - and is the same as #Apple - who also refused to confirm or deny, saying if they had, it would be illegal for them to comment.

“When my office asked Google about backdoor demands from the U.K., the company did not answer the question, only stating that if it had received [such a demand], it would be prohibited from disclosing that fact.”
#encryption

Senator #RonWyden gets a refusal to deny that there are #encryption #backdoors at #Google from the UK government under the #IPAct

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/07/29/uk-encryption-backdoor-wyden-letter-gabbard/

Paris said au revoir to cars. Air pollution maps reveal a dramatic change. Air pollution fell substantially as the city restricted car traffic and made way for parks and bike lanes.

“Air pollution fell substantially as Paris restricted car traffic and made way for parks, people-streets and bike-lanes.”

Better for the climate, better for health, better for livability & quality of life.

Common sense.

Such a no-brainer, it’s remarkable that more cities HAVEN’T done the same.

@je5perl Maybe it is something EU / UK vs US - I was not logged in at the US address

@je5perl Ah no? I don;t get it from a US IP.

But it is: and we need mainstream politicians to start to unpick what is happening here. It is not some unmitigated success and we do not just need to do more of the same.