back to article UK toughens Online Safety Act with ban on self-harm content

Tech companies will be legally required to prevent content involving self-harm from appearing on their platforms – rather than responding and removing it – in a planned amendment to the UK's controversial Online Safety Act. Young man without mouth The UK Online Safety Act is about censorship, not safety READ MORE The move …

COMMENTS

This topic is closed for new posts.
  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Sticking Plaster

    Tell the public you're putting some sticky plasters on a problem and they'll be safe, meanwhile censoring or attacking dissent from state narratives & protest.

    STOP keeping me safe and just keep me informed! You allow all sorts of crime to go unpunished when it is providing votes.

    1. Dan 55 Silver badge

      Re: Sticking Plaster

      "Dissent from state narratives" - are you sure about that? I've never seen a government announce support for Palestine yet crack down so hard on demonstrators who are demonstrating in support of the same cause. It seems they just get a kick out of pointless authoritarianism more than anything else.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Sticking Plaster

        The reason the govt is behaving this way is they know full well that what they say to the public is all performative and has no substance to it whatsoever.

        But a fairly important correction to your statement would be that the 'demonstrators' are not supporting the wider cause, they were specifically supporting a group that has been prescribed under UK law due to a long history of repeated attacks on both public and private infrastructure (they attacked one company something like 20 times) causing millions of £ worth of criminal damage and intimidation of the people who work for these companies.

        If these 900 or so people that were arrested were actually protesting what was going on in Gaza then they would not have been arrested. Instead they are trying to martyr themselves.

        1. Fonant Silver badge
          Headmaster

          Re: Sticking Plaster

          Should be "proscribed under UK law". You can't get Palestine Action for the £9.90.

          1. xyz Silver badge

            Re: Sticking Plaster

            Is Palestine Acton proscribed? Or Ealing? ;-)

            At least cycling fora might get their Lycra collars felt.

        2. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

          Re: Sticking Plaster

          s/pre/pro/

        3. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Sticking Plaster

          " due to a long history of repeated attacks on both public and private infrastructure"

          While that may well be true, it's no justification for putting Palestine Action into the same group as actual enemies of the state terrorist/war criminals like Hamas, Putin, the Norks, Netanyahu, Iran, etc.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Sticking Plaster

            No, the govts reaction was a huge overreach but they were put in a difficult position as they went after 2 US based companies that have offices in the UK. The US govt were not happy that the UK govt was letting a load of middle class numpties run around smashing up private businesses. So the UK govt 'did something', just like with the OSA.

            And intimidation with the intent to force political change is one of the definitions of terrorism. The people who work for the companies that this group have repeatedly attacked have absolutely zero power to change the way the UK govt is behaving and realistically the UK govt has very little power other than stern words to change the way the Israeli govt is behaving. The only govt that could do that is the US govt and both sides of the aisle over there are fully in support of what is happening.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: Sticking Plaster

              Plenty the UK govt could be doing -

              1) recognise the state of Palestine based on the borders set out at a minimum by the UN in 1948 (though those were racistly defined to appease the Americans - no shock there)

              2) Sanction the state of Israel, shutter it's embassy and expel it's diplomats/spies

              3) root and branch investigation into Israeli influence campaigns, espionage etc committed on UK soil (though that won't happen as large numbers of prominent politicians, business people and donors would be caught up in serious scandals.

              4) Ban on Israeli citizens entering or transiting through the UK

              5) full scale arms embargo against Israel

              6) Deny banking facilities to any Israeli entity or citizen and freeze assets held in UK financial institutions

              But they won't because the reality is and always will be that the UK political and business establishment operate on a racist principle that darker skinned people are lesser and at the same time are biased towards Israel or at the very least are too cowardly challenge Israel for fear of being subjected to invective like "Jew haters" "blood libel" "anti Semites" "terrorist sympathisers" and more terms than have lost their meaning due to the Israeli govt wearing them out (a bit like the astroturf groups using stuff like "woman hater" when faced with allegations of bigotry /homophobia/transphobia etc - trying to create a chilling effect, coupled with bullying in its various and myriad forms such as lawfare and SLAPP suits)

              1. Anonymous Coward
                Anonymous Coward

                Re: Sticking Plaster

                1) how does that actually help? Practically what difference does it make on the ground?

                2) never as the govt will be labelled anti something or other

                3) same as 2

                4) same as 2 but now the US and EU govt will also be leaning on the UK govt

                5) 99% of their stuff comes from the US or made by IMI and other local companies

                6) same as 4

          2. heyrick Silver badge

            Re: Sticking Plaster

            "it's no justification for putting Palestine Action into the same group as actual enemies"

            The Americans have already tried publicly intimidating France over its desire to recognise Palestine, because at this point the United States is basically Israel's sugar daddy.

            It would seem that the British government caved much earlier and decided that a bunch of loud vandals were as much a risk as Al Qaeda. I imagine a large number of people getting arrested now are less about Palestine and more about the government being fucking idiots. After all, Just Stop Oil caused more destruction but they were just branded middle class numpties and arseholes, not terrorists.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Sticking Plaster

        Wouldn't have anything at ALL to do with any of the following - poodling to the USA, the "totally not an Israeli govt front/espionage ring" labour/conservative friends of Israeli, the faith of the "Blue labour" founder, the Chancellor's past as deputy head of the labour friends of Israel alongside many other high ranking politicians from most parties....

        No, no possible links to any of the above at all...

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Childcatcher

    Self harm...

    Will that include politicians making complete asses of themselves ?

  3. may_i Silver badge

    Government Lobbying the Government

    It should be noted that The Samaritans receive £5,900,000 in grants from the Government.

    Why try to justify despicable laws yourself when you can get a charity to do it for you and make their support look legitimate?

    1. xyz123 Silver badge

      Re: Government Lobbying the Government

      The Samaritans is long past being a charity. its a for-profit money making scheme with nasty religious overtones. Had a work colleague ask them for help, and they demanded to know what christian denomination he was and refused to help because he specified "no religion"

      1. Dan 55 Silver badge

        Re: Government Lobbying the Government

        It seems it depends on the person. Some may have their own reasons for volunteering but I expect the pool of volunteers is pretty small to begin with.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Government Lobbying the Government

      Sounds like the NSPCC and the local carers centre (who got a lot of funding from the local council so won't rock the boat on cuts to carers and disabled support)

  4. EricM Silver badge

    The U.K. is gaining speed on the slippery slope, ...

    ... just like nearly everybody with a brain predicted.

    At least the U.K. can serve as bad example to highlight the dangers of government censorship to other nations...

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: The U.K. is gaining speed on the slippery slope, ...

      Oh we are just following what other parts of Europe have been doing for years. What is going on in the UK is 'good' as it keeps people 'safe' and protects our ruling elites from scrutiny.

  5. wolfetone Silver badge

    You could actually invest and improve the mental health provisions in the UK to provide support for people who are struggling.

    But no, you obviously think that removing photos of self harm is enough to stop people doing it. Like it's fucking smoking or something.

    1. Mike007 Silver badge

      A broom and a large rug is cheaper.

      We spent the rest of the mental health budget on suitcases of wine.

      1. CountCadaver Silver badge

        No no no - the latest (USA Christian right origin) narrative thats VERY popular in parliament is that mental health issues are massively over egged - that people need tough love to help them cope with "the normal trials and tribulations of life", that ADHD, Autism and other neurodivergent conditions either don't exist "everyone has a bit of that" or again need harsh and tough love as "people just want an excuse to get high on the public's expense" - ignoring that ADHD is caused by a difference in the structure of the brain and one of the common markers is a deficiency in dopamine levels which stimulant medications treat - improving focus, mood stability, reduction in risk taking and improvements in life outcomes and quality of life.

        We have slid rapidly into an idiocracy of know nothing politics grads, ideologues, spiva, grifters, bigots, racists and theocrats (and often all of the above)

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          "ADHD is caused by a difference in the structure of the brain"

          It wasn't that long ago that the hand-wringers were blithering on about how the MMR caused autisms.

          Sadly things like ADHD, Autism, etc. have been taken over by the lazy parents who want a quick fox for their 'abnormal' child as sitting them down with a tablet to play mindless games and keep them quiet while mummy and daddy drink wine isn't working as well as it used to.

          And I say this as the child of a mother who dragged me from quack to quack to try and determine 'what was wrong with me' and she would have screaming fits when she didn't get the answer she wanted. Thankfully this was back in the 80s and docs didn't hand out medication like sweeties but I did have to suffer a series of special restrictive diets and homeopathic remedies.

  6. nematoad Silver badge
    Big Brother

    The new way.

    Why not ban the internet entirely?

    Everyone knows that it is evil and filled with horror and depravity, so let's keep everyone safe.

    It's not as if the internet has any uses or can be a force for good, informing, educating and entertaining.

    No!

    Something must be done and the easiest and most expedient thing to do is cut off the country from this poisonous monster.

    I suggest that the government send a representative to North Korea to see how the professionals do it.

    Yes, I am being sarcastic, if anyone is in doubt.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: The new way.

      I suggest that the government send a representative to North Korea to see how the professionals do it.

      I suggest send the government to North Korea to see how the professionals do it?

      I shouldn't think a return ticket would be necessary.

    2. R Soul Silver badge

      send a representative to North Korea to see how the professionals do it.

      Why? The Norks will be sending representatives to England to see how the professionals do it.

    3. CountCadaver Silver badge

      Re: The new way.

      Coming soon - Britnet "safe smut-free surfing for sensible people" (someone pass me the sick bucket...quick)

      - you can REALLY tell what all those "fact finding" and "trade delegations" to China during the 90s were REALLY all about - how to build a controlling surveillance state.

      Though the UK govt has form for this - from the obscene publications act of 1959, passed just as society was becoming more liberal and tolerant and which served to curtail material freely available elsewhere to Virginia bottomely in the 90s "I will NOT have British TV become like America, there WILL be standards" to RIPA, snoopers charter and now this pile of dung known as the OSA...

  7. James Anderson

    Effective laws would kill the business model.

    Any effective law to block hate speech, libel, plagiarism and just plain lies would destroy social media’s business model. If they were legally responsible for the nonsense the proliferate they could not afford the manpower to vet all of the posts .. they would go bust.

    So expect ruthless pushback on any attempt to make the internet safe.

    This is not censorship this is about stopping harmful illegal content that is ruining young lives.

    1. xyz123 Silver badge

      Re: Effective laws would kill the business model.

      By the same logic, if I buy a kitchen knife from Amazon, you think Amazon should face punishment if I go on to commit knife crime?

      Or if I buy chemicals from ASDA and use them to poison people, ASDA should be guilty as well?

      1. Dan 55 Silver badge

        Re: Effective laws would kill the business model.

        They're not selling the knife, they're pushing you to use one. Or maybe it's possible to have clean safe responsible fun while cutting your wrists?

      2. Kerfufflinator

        Re: Effective laws would kill the business model.

        As much as I dislike the Online Safety Act, this is a poor analogy. A more apt one would be to say that if ASDA sold me a knife that was branded as "The Stabber 9000: Best out there for killing quickly!", then yes, I think ASDA should be on the hook for it.

  8. xyz123 Silver badge

    Self Harm. So thats anything with alcohol, tobacco, drugs (even government websites to get help), HMRC website as it shows duty for alcohol etc.

    NHS websites to get help with an addiction.

    Sports. gardening (You might throw your back out)

    Store websites such as amazon, sainsburys etc that sell trampolines since if you get hurt on one, thats considered self-harm for the purposes of medical insurance.

    Oh yeah and the Labour party election website because voting for these idiots is harming yourself.

    1. R Soul Silver badge

      shops, not stores

      Why would anyone want to store a website? Or did you mean shopping websites?

      The places where we buy stuff are called shops. Please remember this.

    2. elsergiovolador Silver badge

      Consumption of alcohol or tobacco is self harm. Naturally people should start reporting any content that promotes it (movies, music videos, online articles, adverts, social media posts) and get platforms to take it down.

      (malicious compliance)

      1. cyberdemon Silver badge
        Thumb Up

        You forgot McDonalds

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Politicians will claim "no no no we never said ban those" despite creating a law so broadly worded (and egged on by single issue muppets to make it as vague as possible) and unclear that the modus operandi becomes "better play it safe and censor as much as possible just in case.

      So charities like Mind get denied hosting or at a minimum get wholesale blocked, any discussion of mental health, suicide prevention, discussion of personal experiences with self harm (i.e. support groups that keep people safe) same, all while religious misinformation/disinformation, outright homophobia/transphobic erasure, bile and invective, vile racism and racial stereotypes, anti vaxxer gibberish and other actual harmful things get free reign to run free and promoted often by politicians.

      *Cough* Wes Streeting *cough* bayswater support group *cough* child abusers *cough* corruption *cough* bigotry *cough*- must be something in the air causing this nasty cough....

  9. xyz123 Silver badge

    Taking bets JUST before the next election the government has "an accident" and blocks the websites of all potential political rivals. Even on a county by county basis for places they want to tip the vote.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      No they just thrash that all out BEFORE the election, the media / dark money tycoons tell them what to say and what the narrative will be and who is going to win, who is going to be the baddies this election and who are the heroes....

      Makes me wonder if they are all just a collection of no talent hack actors

  10. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Every time I get horny and try to access a pornographic website I am forced to follow the government's advice, and "think of the children".

    Now I am on a list...

    (yes, a bad joke, but someone had to make it)

  11. Tubz Silver badge

    OSA is complete BS, and is just another example of overreach without thought to satisfy a few loud mouths "think of the children" and deprive people of freedom of choice.

    Perfect example, have had a Steam account since 2004 and yet have now been told, that my account has had the right to some content disabled until I do the online check.

    When I explained to Steam that my account has been going 20 years and hence I must be over 18 years old and do not need to prove this, please enable, they refuse saying they had to follow OSA rules.

    I'm 50+ years FFS, Starmer, his retarded government if liars and his net nannies can GFT I don't need to prove anything to play a game !

    Funny how I can still use Google to search for porn pictures but see no prosecutions, Starmer still sleeping with U.S megacorps.

    This is just the start, online or physical digital ID's cards containing lots of juicy info to be hacked, unlawfully accessed, as security services do now and protect themselves with RIPA and once we get comfortable with that invasion of privacy, a law that makes it compulsory to hand over to security services on demand, no right to refuse as we have now, anonymity now gone.

    The UK is truly becoming worse than North Korea with comrade Starmer !

    1. heyrick Silver badge

      "When I explained to Steam that my account has been going 20 years and hence I must be over 18 years old and do not need to prove this, please enable, they refuse saying they had to follow OSA rules."

      Do the OSA rules absolutely specify that you have to hand out PII to all and sundry, or that you just need to demonstrate that you are adult age, which a 20 year old account ought to satisfy.

      If you don't absolutely need to hand over PII, maybe threaten small claims court to get back what they are now arbitrarily denying you?

      All that being said, the law is stupid, vague, badly written, and Ofcom seems to be about as clueless as everybody else when asked to give specifics. I'm surprised Big Social hasn't unplugged the UK themselves, or implemented a special Fisher Price version with unicorns that fart rainbows and only allowing content marked as suitable for toddlers, like the ones in Westminster.

  12. Fonant Silver badge
    Go

    Saw a neat thing on a website (may have been made up, but the idea seems to work):

    Message:

    "Sorry, this website is not legally viewable by people in the UK, due to the OSA. Your IP address suggests that you might be in the UK, but are you?"

    Buttons:

    "I am not in the UK" (green)

    "I am in the UK" (red)

    Clicking the green button lets you into the website. Clicking the red button takes you somewhere else...

    1. Tubz Silver badge

      So basically a "Are You Over 18 Question" that has been on websites for years and was good enough to protect the owner from prosecution, as it made sure the user was at fault if breaking age rules. Now I just send my data via Swiss VPN if I know UK snoops what to validate.

      1. heyrick Silver badge
        Facepalm

        Stupid is as stupid does

        On my blog I have a button that must be ticked to say "I'm not UK resident", and some text that says that you agree to indemnify me if you actually are in the UK - because there's no saying that other people will stay exactly on topic (especially given as my blog itself rarely manages to keep on any one topic) and, technically, I suppose they could give each other messages...? It would be ridiculous to call that social media, but Ofcom might, and actually reading the Act doesn't provide any clarity. So...

        Appropriate icon is appropriate.

  13. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

    "requires platform providers to take proactive measures to prevent its publication."

    I take it HMG has a working proof of concept to show that this can be done and how.

    1. Dan 55 Silver badge

      Of course, just like age verification itself.

  14. mIVQU#~(p,

    Ironically a lot of the support groups that she mentioned have been cut off (to vulnerable people) by their online age verification scam.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Maybe that was intentional?

  15. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Enforcement????

    Quote: "...legally required to prevent content...."

    Hah......."PREVENT" already fails to prevent anything!

    ....and so with "PREVENT Version 2"

  16. zimzam Silver badge
    Joke

    HM Government Bans Queen

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn2z19QnEfQ

  17. VoiceOfTruth Silver badge

    I think it's time to ban things which are a threat to democracy

    Unelected heads of state. And unelected morons/greasers/failed politicians sitting in an unelected legislature.

  18. Scotech

    Liz Truss, much like Peter Kyle and a certain famous historical emperor, has no clothes. It's nice to see she's still wandering around her office with a blank sheet of paper and a slightly bewildered look on her face all these years later...

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Will there be any consultations from the Gov or Ofcom like last time about this change or are they just rushing this into law and if they do will sites have to redo there illegal content risk assessment?

    I can see so many problems with this for sites.

    This announcement also feels very PR like and not thought out to me and Liz Kendall has only been Technology Secretary for less then 72 hours.

  20. Tron Silver badge

    Labour party policy equates to self harm.

    Everything they do loses them another big slice of the electorate. Blocking online porn, which is the prole feed of the digital age, is going to see an awful lot of people just think, sod it, I'm not voting for them, regardless.

    They have been in power just over a year after a landslide victory, and now trail Reform in the polls. How crap do you have to be for that to happen? Zero talent. Zero ability.

    You cannot allow your policies to be led by activists. Activists have tunnel vision and don't care about unintended consequences or collateral damage. Rank idiocy.

    Who would have thought they would fail as badly as the Tories did before them?

  21. JimmyPage Silver badge
    Big Brother

    Here's the scope creep

    Creep ? Sprint more like.

This topic is closed for new posts.

Other stories you might like