Online Safety Act

[John Clarke]

I've just stumbled on this piece, via another of the sites I visit regularly:

https://www.techdirt.com/2024/12/20/dea ... mmunities/

Could this be a threat to the Forum as we know it? We have carried the odd item that referred to dubious activities ....

[NickFaulks]

I've just stumbled on this piece, via another of the sites I visit regularly:

https://www.techdirt.com/2024/12/20/dea ... mmunities/

Could this be a threat to the Forum as we know it? We have carried the odd item that referred to dubious activities ....

"When you regulate the internet as if it’s all just Facebook, all that will be left is Facebook."

I have never had any doubt that is the plan.

[Carl Hibbard]

It is a giant mess of a law targeting the big boys who will simply ignore it - but it does allow Ofcom to do whatever they want.

[Roger Lancaster]

There's an official explanation at https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -explainer. Prima facie, the Act is targeted at illegal or immoral activity and "takes a proportionate approach to mis- and disinformation by focusing on addressing the greatest risks of harm to users, whilst protecting freedom of expression". I would expect "a proportionate approach" to mean that Ofcom, the regulating body, would not be concerned with whether allegations that (for example) grandmaster X is cheating are or are not mis- or disinformation. However, that's based on a quick reading and it may be that others here take a different view.