Censored!

[AngelSpeaks]

There is a good chance that we will have to ban all Direct Messages in the very near future. The Online Safety Act says that you need to ensure nothing nefarious goes on in Direct Messages too, and the only way to do that is to make them all viewable to moderators, which is not currently possible with the Xenforo software. Also, it would mean going through thousands of previous Direct Messages between members, and also an invasion of everyones privacy.

It looks like the only solution will be to turn that feature off for everybody, unfortunately.

Jon, do what you have to do.

 

[Mike Krailo]

There is a good chance that we will have to ban all Direct Messages in the very near future. The Online Safety Act says that you need to ensure nothing nefarious goes on in Direct Messages too, and the only way to do that is to make them all viewable to moderators, which is not currently possible with the Xenforo software. Also, it would mean going through thousands of previous Direct Messages between members, and also an invasion of everyones privacy.

It looks like the only solution will be to turn that feature off for everybody, unfortunately.

This is the most awful news yet. This really makes no sense at all for country to shut down communications of it's citizens. There is no way this ends well.

 

[Isaac]

The act applies to services even if the companies providing them are outside the UK

 

[Isaac]

I feel bad for everyone having to comply with this new law, what a sad day for freedom and mostly for small businesses. Severe over-regulation if I ever saw it. I've seen many regulations in the USA that only apply to, (for example), "companies with >5000 employees", or "companies doing over $10MM of revenue a year", etc. Some similar threshhold should have been applied in this law, but the act seems to brag about how they will enforce it against smaller operators, too.

But if misery loves company don't feel too bad, we are very close behind you in all of these draconian regulations and outlooks on life.
If a Republican doesn't win in 2028, the pendelum will just bounce back again to an extreme Nanny state like Democrats like, killing dissent and free speech

God forbid anyone be offended by my opinion, or more shockingly, the truth

 

[Jon]

I have a sense that this new censorship law has become some kind of pissing contest. "We have the best laws for protecting its citizens, better than all the other countries!"

 

[Isaac]

I have a sense that this new censorship law has become some kind of pissing contest. "We have the best laws for protecting its citizens, better than all the other countries!"

Yep.

Protecting, of course, only those who 'fit' the current approved narrative. Anyone who disagrees is a hateful, *phobe of some kind

 

[BlueSpruce]

There is a good chance that we will have to ban all Direct Messages in the very near future. The Online Safety Act says that you need to ensure nothing nefarious goes on in Direct Messages too, and the only way to do that is to make them all viewable to moderators, which is not currently possible with the Xenforo software. Also, it would mean going through thousands of previous Direct Messages between members, and also an invasion of everyones privacy.

It looks like the only solution will be to turn that feature off for everybody, unfortunately.

Simple, delete all direct messages and non-tech threads, remove direct messaging and non-tech forums. It's impossible to evaluate each post to decide which ones violate the thought police rules and to moderate future non-tech content. You'll still have your hands full moderating the tech forums, as nothing prevents anyone from posting anything in them. The thought police bots are canvassing all sites, and anyone can file a frivolous complaint with Ofcom.

 

[BlueSpruce]

Not sure how you'd handle things that happen in real time

I think the UK's thought police is going to rely on AI bots to scan content and people who file complaints. For real time VR game sites, they would probably have to plant an undercover member who gathers evidence. I think their primary targets are the big platforms, like Facebook, X, and other platforms known to have rhetorical content. It all looks like a money grab scheme to me. Site owners who don't pay fines, or criticize the establishment get banned. I would think several sites will preemptively block the UK to avoid.

 

[Isaac]

I think the UK's thought police is going to rely on AI bots to scan content and people who file complaints. For real time VR game sites, they would probably have to plant an undercover member who gathers evidence. I think their primary targets are the big platforms, like Facebook, X, and other platforms known to have rhetorical content. It all looks like a money grab scheme to me. Site owners who don't pay fines, or criticize the establishment get banned. I would think several sites will preemptively block the UK to avoid.

It's mind boggling to see the massive amount of effort and money they might take to enforce this draconian nonsense.
Heaven Forbid that someone might feel bad about something! We have become the sensitive crybaby society.

 

[BlueSpruce]

It's mind boggling to see the massive amount of effort and money they might take to enforce this draconian nonsense.
Heaven Forbid that someone might feel bad about something! We have become the sensitive crybaby society.

Their experiment will eventually blow away when they realize they can't enforce their rules beyond their borders. All they can do is control UK sites and block foreign one's, and that will be counterproductive to their economy. I know for several years countries like China banned Google and several other foreign sites, and they censor free speech. Does anyone know more specifics about the impact? My fear is the US adopting UK's playbook. The US and UK have been sleeping in the same bed for quite some time.