European Online Safety Act: Difference between revisions

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Added a basic overview to what the UK online safety act actually is and what it says it's purpose is
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== Overview ==
== Overview ==
The UK Online Safety Act 2023 claims to give new duties to social media companies to protect all users from illegal content and prevent children on the internet from seeing harmful and/or adult content. The UK government cite states that as of March 2025, platforms are now required to use age assuring technology to prevent underage users from being exposed to adult content such as pornography, hateful content, or content which encourages suicide, self harm, or eating disorders<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-24 |title=Online Safety Act |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/online-safety-act |url-status=live |website=gov.uk}}</ref>.
The UK Online Safety Act 2023 is an act passed by the United Kingdom Parliament that gives the government of the United Kingdom to suppress and record online content that the United Kingdom government deems harmful to children. The UK government cite states that as of March 2025, platforms are now required to use age assuring technology to prevent underage users from being exposed to adult content such as pornography, hateful content, or content which encourages suicide, self harm, or eating disorders<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-24 |title=Online Safety Act |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/online-safety-act |url-status=live |website=gov.uk}}</ref>. In practice the act is likely to affect both children and adults.
  (This is re-edition of the contents displayed in [https://fightchatcontrol.eu/ fightchatcontrol.eu])
  (This is re-edition of the contents displayed in [https://fightchatcontrol.eu/ fightchatcontrol.eu])
European Online Safety Act is a stark affront to fundamental human rights, particularly the inviolable right to privacy. It mandates sweeping surveillance measures—including automated scanning of every private message and file—without any suspicion or consent, eroding encryption safeguards and sowing the seeds of Orwellian mass monitoring. This legislation weaponizes the veneer of safety to justify an authoritarian intrusion into personal digital spaces—an erosion of privacy dressed up as protection.


==How it works==
==How it works==
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===<u>1. UK Online Safety Act (OSA)</u>===
===<u>1. UK Online Safety Act (OSA)</u>===


*'''Age Verification Enforcement:''' The OSA obliges online platforms to require age verification for users attempting to access specific types of content. Frequently, the verification process is outsourced to third-party companies. These companies may request sensitive personal and biometric information—including facial scans, identity documents, and financial data.
*'''Age Verification Enforcement:''' The OSA Requires online platforms to require age verification for users attempting to access specific types of content. Frequently, the verification process is outsourced to third-party companies. These companies may request sensitive personal and biometric information—including facial scans, identity documents, and financial data.
*'''Privacy Risks:''' The absence of a public registry or certification standard for age verification providers means there is significant potential for misuse or mishandling of user data. Many providers operate overseas with limited regulation and weak data protection practices, creating major privacy vulnerabilities.
*'''Privacy Risks:''' The absence of a public registry or certification standard for age verification providers means there is significant potential for misuse or mishandling of user data. Many providers operate overseas with limited regulation and weak data protection practices, creating major privacy vulnerabilities.
*'''Impact on Users:''' Millions in the UK have had to provide private details simply to use social media platforms or dating apps. This widespread data collection is criticized by privacy advocates.
*'''Impact on Users:''' U.K Citizens have had to provide private details where they previously didn't to use social media platforms or dating apps.
*'''Surveillance and Content Moderation:''' The Act expands monitoring and surveillance, requiring platforms to scan end-to-end encrypted messages for illegal content. Experts highlight that these requirements could technically compromise privacy and security.
*'''Surveillance and Content Moderation:''' The OSA expands monitoring of users of various social media platforms, requiring platforms to scan encrypted messages for illegal content. these requirements could technically compromise privacy and security.
*'''Free Expression:''' Stringent moderation and age-gating may restrict information access for all users (including adults who refuse to submit sensitive data). These measures risk fostering self-censorship and suppressing open debate, even affecting democratic participation.
*'''Free Expression:''' Stringent moderation and age-gating may restrict information access for all users (including adults who refuse to submit sensitive data). These measures risk self-censorship and suppressing open debate, even affecting democratic participation when the act obliges "democratically important" content to not be removed.


===<u>2. EU Digital Services Act (DSA)</u>===
===<u>2. EU Digital Services Act (DSA)</u>===