Open Rights Group

🚨 BREAKING 🚨

The UK Information Commissioner's Office and Ofcom are pushing for tech companies to strengthen age checks.

It's disastrous that the ICO wants to somehow 'protect children’s data' by compelling 13-18 year olds to use poorly regulated digital identification products that could put their biometric data at risk.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/social-media-ico-protect-children-b2936462.html

#ageverification #privacy #digitalid #ofcom #ico #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

Join us for our latest London meet-up!

The ORG team will be there to update you on our campaigns on the Migrant Digital Rights Programme and our calls to reform the ICO.

🗓️ Wednesday 25 March
🕡️ 6:30–10pm GMT
📍 Newspeak House, E2 7DG

Sign up now ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/events/org-london-meet-up-3/

#digitalrights #meetup

🚨 Wide ranging powers to restrict Internet access in the UK have been voted through 🚨

Ministers will be able to impose digital ID checks, curfews and VPN restrictions without Parliamentary scrutiny.

This can be used on websites, social media, apps and games with no need to show there's any harm to children.

Find out more ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/mps-give-ministers-powers-to-restrict-entire-internet/

#onlinesafety #digitalid #id #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

Tomorrow UK MPs face a choice:

Give Ministers a blank cheque to impose digital ID checks across any part of the Internet, or protect our rights.

They must say no to powers that’ll restrict our access to information unless we all prove we’re over 16.

Join over 570 people who’ve written to their MP ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/no-id-checks-web-access

#onlinesafety #digitalid #ageverification #privacy #freedomofinformation #ukpolitics #ukpol

The eVisa judicial review will hear that the digital and online-only scheme is unlawful.

Without a physical copy of their immigration status, migrants are at risk of losing access to housing, services and work.

Despite being warned since before implementation, the UK Home Office has done nothing.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366639628/Landmark-legal-challenge-against-Home-Office-eVisa-system-heard

#evisa #immigration #homeoffice #migrants #ukpolitics #ukpol

Digital ID checkpoints could erupt across the Internet 🆔

The UK government is seeking a power grab. And it's not just social media.

Every adult will have to do ID checks to access whatever online services the government – any government – decides to restrict or curfew.

Watch ORG's @JamesBaker@social.openrightsgroup.org explain ⬇️

https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/jW6bfdxDnPFRaC8m7kkvSD

#ID #DigitalID #onlinesafety #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

Measures to stop online harms just rearrange the deckchairs.

To get serious about it, we must attack how social media platforms do business.

Using our data to keep us online with targeted ads and 'For You' algorithms is the engine of hate and extremism. We must #BreakBigTech.

Sign our petition (UK) ⬇️

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/break-big-tech

#bigtech #socialmedia #onlinesafety #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol #petition

The proscription of Palestine Action in the UK has been found unlawful. So what now for content takedowns?

Ofcom must urgently make it clear what platforms are expected to do under their duty to remove 'terrorist' posts and stop censorship.

Read about our open letter ⬇️

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/ofcom-urged-clarify-palestine-action-content-removed-online

#PalestineAction #palestine #ofcom #censorship #freedomofexpression #OnlineSafetyAct #ukpolitics #ukpol

“Child safety is vital, but giving ministers sweeping powers to make communication conditional on digital ID is a profound and risky expansion of state control.”

🗣️ ORG’s James Baker on new Henry VIII powers to extend age verification across any part of the Internet without going through the UK Parliament.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2516996-banning-children-from-vpns-and-social-media-will-erode-adults-privacy/

#ageverification #vpn #ukpolitics #ukpol #privacy

ORG and European civil society groups have warned about the reliance on a few dominant companies for digital infrastructure.

This means they can degrade their services without consequences – known as enshittification, as coined by Cory Doctorow.

Read more about the report and open letter to EU institutions ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/cory-doctorow-joins-european-civil-society-to-demand-rebalancing-of-digital-power/

#BigTech #enshittification #DigitalSovereignty #ukpolitics #ukpol #eu

Age walls could be erected at the UK government's whim.

New Henry VIII powers would give Ministers the ability to impose age verification way beyond social media.

We'll have to surrender our ID to unregulated providers for everyday access to information and services. And it only makes Big Tech more powerful – data is their lifeblood.

We must stand up for privacy! It starts with protecting VPNs.

Sign our petition ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/87PRaAiX1qKCMSk3RRLPYZ

#vpn #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol #privacy

So-called 'crime predicting' tech automates racism in the UK criminal justice system.

Even the police have admitted that it's biased, with it being based on flawed police data 🤷

We need to stop pouring in good money after bad.

We need an outright ban on its use.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/24/police-ai-chief-admits-crime-fighting-tech-will-have-bias-but-vows-to-tackle-it

#SafetyNotSurveillance #precrime #AI #policing #automatedinjustice #ukpolitics #ukpol

Putting VPNs behind an age wall threatens our privacy.

They keep young people safe from harassment. Business networks secure. Journalists, campaigners and whistleblowers shielded from harm.

Privacy is online safety ✊️

Sign the petition to protect VPN use in the UK ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-government-protect-vpn-use-uk

#vpn #privacy #cybersecurity #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol

Cyber security authorities, including the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, advocate the use of VPNs to enhance online safety.

“Implementing age verification for VPNs could undermine their privacy benefits and pose challenges for legitimate users, including young individuals seeking online privacy and security. We risk trading one risk posed to young people for another.”

🗣️ @JamesBaker@social.openrightsgroup.org for ORG.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366639234/Businesses-may-be-caught-by-government-proposals-to-restrict-VPN-use

#vpn #privacy #security #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol

Trying to fix a broken system by tinkering won't achieve online safety.

The issue? The Internet is centralised in the hands of a few tech behemoths.

Simply adding new rules while harms evolve around them is a losing battle.

We must build something better.

Read our latest blog ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/online-safety-needs-structural-change-not-more-layers-of-control/

#onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #bigtech #ageverification #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

The UK government has blamed legacy IT systems for data breaches.

They've admitted there were 48 legacy systems that formed the basis for the eVisa scheme.

Despite warnings, the Home Office has refused to slow down, stop and revise this system. This can't go on.

https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/11/uk_afghan_breach_probe/

#evisa #dataprotection #gdpr #immigration #homeoffice #ukpolitics #ukpol

The UK government is playing whack-a-mole with online safety.

Plans to further age-gate the Internet dodges the real issue – the power of Big Tech.

Failing to regulate AI and the age verification industry puts the rights of users in peril.

Read our response ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/online-harms-millions-could-be-forced-to-use-unregulated-age-verification/

#ageverification #privacy #dataprotection #bigtech #onlinesafetyact #ukpolitics #ukpol #socialmedia

How to baffle and confuse online advertisers.

A VPN masks your IP address, making it harder for companies to track you and build a profile that can be traded by the adtech industry.

✅️ Get a reputable VPN – don't use a free one.

Drop your suggestions below 👇️

Find out more ➡️ https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/how-to-stop-stalker-ads/

#StopStalkerAds #adtech #privacy #vpn #tips #surveillanceadvertising

#Roblox, #Reddit and #Discord users must use biometric #ageverification tool backed by Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel

@JamesBaker@social.openrightsgroup.org says:

“People are worried, and angry, about having to hand over biometric scans of their face to overseas companies just to access online platforms. This includes children.

“Users deserve to know who is behind these systems, how their data is being used, and to have a real choice about who verifies their identity online.”

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/roblox-reddit-and-discord-users-compelled-to-use-biometric-id-system-backed-by-palantir-co-founder-peter-thiel/

Your emails can be a pipeline to the adtech industry.

Gmail delivers targeted advertising and scans emails to power “smart features” in the name of personalising your experience.

✅️ Switch to an email provider like Proton Mail.

Drop your suggestions below 👇️

Find. out more ➡️ https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/how-to-stop-stalker-ads/

#StopStalkerAds #adtech #privacy #email #tips #surveillanceadvertising

Use a burner email address to #StopStalkerAds.

ORG's investigation into Liveramp showed that adtech systems combine online and offline identifiers to profile people for advertising.

✅️ Use disposable email adresses when you're creating accounts online.

➡️ https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/how-to-stop-stalker-ads/

#adtech #privacy #dataprotection #surveillanceadvertising

To consent or pay... that is the price tag on our privacy.

We have the right to opt-out of being tracked and profiled. But Meta says you have to cough up to #StopStalkerAds.

There should be an option that doesn't process personal data to use their services.

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/to-consent-or-pay/

#privacy #meta #adtech #consentorpay #dataprotection #gdpr

Think twice before setting up a new account using your Google, Facebook or Apple sign-in.

This gives 3rd party sites access to information connected to your account that could be sold on.

✅️ Always create a new account with a separate email and password.

➡️ https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/how-to-stop-stalker-ads/

#StopStalkerAds #adtech #privacy #dataprotection #tips