Graham Smith
@cyberleagle.bsky.social
IT and internet lawyer. Sceptical tech enthusiast. Reposts and links are not endorsements. All views my own. No posts are legal advice. www.cyberleagle.com
Reposted by Graham Smith
In *that* OBR document it was also revealed the digital ID will cost £1.8bn and that the scheme is currently unfunded.
That is a colossal amount of money for a scheme that promises so little in return.
Imagine where else that could be better spent.
The Government must think again.
That is a colossal amount of money for a scheme that promises so little in return.
Imagine where else that could be better spent.
The Government must think again.
November 26, 2025 at 1:21 PM
In *that* OBR document it was also revealed the digital ID will cost £1.8bn and that the scheme is currently unfunded.
That is a colossal amount of money for a scheme that promises so little in return.
Imagine where else that could be better spent.
The Government must think again.
That is a colossal amount of money for a scheme that promises so little in return.
Imagine where else that could be better spent.
The Government must think again.
Welcome to a parallel universe in which public spending is not public spending if you call it investment. Get ready to play Budget Investment Bingo.
November 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Welcome to a parallel universe in which public spending is not public spending if you call it investment. Get ready to play Budget Investment Bingo.
Reposted by Graham Smith
I would say this, but the IfG's budget live blog is already great, even before we get to the main event - where else do you get this kind of content?
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I would say this, but the IfG's budget live blog is already great, even before we get to the main event - where else do you get this kind of content?
Communications Minister: "We will not be intimidated by threats. We will not be intimidated by legal challenges. We will not be intimidated by big tech. On behalf of Australian parents, we will stand firm," >>> And teens. Don't forget teens. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Australia social media ban: Teens challenge law before High Court
They argue the law - which will block users under 16 from having social media accounts - is unconstitutional.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Communications Minister: "We will not be intimidated by threats. We will not be intimidated by legal challenges. We will not be intimidated by big tech. On behalf of Australian parents, we will stand firm," >>> And teens. Don't forget teens. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Graham Smith
A useful overview by Professor Sarah Joseph (from November last year) on how the social media minimum age obligation might violate the implied freedom of political communication in the Constitution:
November 26, 2025 at 3:50 AM
A useful overview by Professor Sarah Joseph (from November last year) on how the social media minimum age obligation might violate the implied freedom of political communication in the Constitution:
Australian Senate report on under-16 social media ban. (PDF) www.aph.gov.au/-/media/Comm...
www.aph.gov.au
November 26, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Australian Senate report on under-16 social media ban. (PDF) www.aph.gov.au/-/media/Comm...
Reposted by Graham Smith
@itvnews.bsky.social coverage of @ofcom.bsky.social #vawg guidance here with comments from Internet Matters and Refuge on why its non-enforceable status may limit its impact. 2/ www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
November 25, 2025 at 9:17 AM
@itvnews.bsky.social coverage of @ofcom.bsky.social #vawg guidance here with comments from Internet Matters and Refuge on why its non-enforceable status may limit its impact. 2/ www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Graham Smith
Spoilsports have corrected it without acknowledging the howler.
OMG. The Guardian have confused Kenneth Clark, presenter of the 1969 series 'Civilisation' with Tory ex-MP & former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke in their review of the new BBC series 'Civilisations:Rise & Fall'
November 25, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Spoilsports have corrected it without acknowledging the howler.
Reposted by Graham Smith
Or have they confused Kenneth Clark with his son Alan Clark MP, who had an affair with a mother and daughter, wrote about admiring Thatcher's ankles and all sorts of sleazy stuff?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Cl...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Cl...
Alan Clark - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Or have they confused Kenneth Clark with his son Alan Clark MP, who had an affair with a mother and daughter, wrote about admiring Thatcher's ankles and all sorts of sleazy stuff?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Cl...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Cl...
Reposted by Graham Smith
OMG. The Guardian have confused Kenneth Clark, presenter of the 1969 series 'Civilisation' with Tory ex-MP & former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke in their review of the new BBC series 'Civilisations:Rise & Fall'
November 25, 2025 at 12:29 AM
OMG. The Guardian have confused Kenneth Clark, presenter of the 1969 series 'Civilisation' with Tory ex-MP & former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke in their review of the new BBC series 'Civilisations:Rise & Fall'
Reposted by Graham Smith
🚨 @ofcom.bsky.social have published their final guidance on protecting women and girls online. Coverage and commentary, including our own response, to follow here later. #onlinesafetyact #vawg #violenceagainstwomenandgirls www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Ofcom: Tech firms must up their game to tackle online harms against women and girls
Online safety watchdog, Ofcom, today launches new industry guidance demanding that tech firms step up to deliver a safer online experience for millions of women and girls in the UK.
www.ofcom.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:32 AM
🚨 @ofcom.bsky.social have published their final guidance on protecting women and girls online. Coverage and commentary, including our own response, to follow here later. #onlinesafetyact #vawg #violenceagainstwomenandgirls www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Reposted by Graham Smith
The European Commission finds that the draft of the Spanish Organic Law governing the right to rectification (aimed at regulating influencers on online platforms) is incompatible with EU law (country of origin principle and DSA) technical-regulation-information-system.ec.europa.eu/en/notificat...
Notification Detail | TRIS - European Commission
technical-regulation-information-system.ec.europa.eu
November 22, 2025 at 8:34 AM
The European Commission finds that the draft of the Spanish Organic Law governing the right to rectification (aimed at regulating influencers on online platforms) is incompatible with EU law (country of origin principle and DSA) technical-regulation-information-system.ec.europa.eu/en/notificat...
Reposted by Graham Smith
When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Even if the hammer is already about to disintegrate and there are far better tools in the box.
November 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Even if the hammer is already about to disintegrate and there are far better tools in the box.
The saga continues.
BREAKING: The CPS will pursue an appeal of the overturning of Hamit Coskun's conviction after he burnt a Quran in protest.
The High Court must reject this dangerous attempt to police 'offence' on behalf of religion.
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/11...
The High Court must reject this dangerous attempt to police 'offence' on behalf of religion.
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/11...
CPS challenges quashing of Quran-burning conviction
NSS: Guilty verdict would echo "blasphemy law" and establish "extremist's veto". Read More »
www.secularism.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The saga continues.
Reposted by Graham Smith
I don't normally bother with Andrew Orlowski's stuff any more – he's reliably wrong and not in an interesting way – but this piece is especially stupid:
Defend British sovereignty, defend the Online Safety Act thecritic.co.uk/defend-briti...
#censorship #openweb #techpolicy
Defend British sovereignty, defend the Online Safety Act thecritic.co.uk/defend-briti...
#censorship #openweb #techpolicy
November 21, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I don't normally bother with Andrew Orlowski's stuff any more – he's reliably wrong and not in an interesting way – but this piece is especially stupid:
Defend British sovereignty, defend the Online Safety Act thecritic.co.uk/defend-briti...
#censorship #openweb #techpolicy
Defend British sovereignty, defend the Online Safety Act thecritic.co.uk/defend-briti...
#censorship #openweb #techpolicy
Attorney General's Office: “there may be enforcement issues in practice and that expanding contempt jurisdiction to cover publication abroad for a foreign audience would breach principles of international comity”
Law Commission: lawcom.gov.uk/publication/...
Law Commission: lawcom.gov.uk/publication/...
November 21, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Attorney General's Office: “there may be enforcement issues in practice and that expanding contempt jurisdiction to cover publication abroad for a foreign audience would breach principles of international comity”
Law Commission: lawcom.gov.uk/publication/...
Law Commission: lawcom.gov.uk/publication/...
Reposted by Graham Smith
I literally could not stop myself from inappropriately laughing out loud for real
November 21, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I literally could not stop myself from inappropriately laughing out loud for real
Reposted by Graham Smith
This would actually work in the UK context, where all students have to sign into classes with a QR code because the Home Office requires universities to monitor the attendance of foreign students.
November 20, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This would actually work in the UK context, where all students have to sign into classes with a QR code because the Home Office requires universities to monitor the attendance of foreign students.
Reposted by Graham Smith
In my Internet Law course, as a "joke" about the perniciousness of online age authentication requirements, I told students to follow this slide in a serious voice. (I said students who didn't have their IDs would have to leave). Students freaked out until I admitted the joke after a few minutes
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 PM
In my Internet Law course, as a "joke" about the perniciousness of online age authentication requirements, I told students to follow this slide in a serious voice. (I said students who didn't have their IDs would have to leave). Students freaked out until I admitted the joke after a few minutes
"No data are available on the volume of takedowns, but researchers have not reported a dramatic change." Whether or not takedowns have increased, there is of course evidence of small volunteer-run sites shutting down entirely. And we are only just starting on proactive technology content filtering.
Opponents of Britain’s Online Safety Act worried that making profit-driven platforms responsible for removing illegal content would result in widespread censorship. That was a valid concern, but it does not seem to have materialised
Britain’s controversial experiment in regulating the internet
The effects of a new law have been less dramatic than critics warned
econ.st
November 20, 2025 at 10:15 AM
"No data are available on the volume of takedowns, but researchers have not reported a dramatic change." Whether or not takedowns have increased, there is of course evidence of small volunteer-run sites shutting down entirely. And we are only just starting on proactive technology content filtering.
Reposted by Graham Smith
What might Voltaire have said? "I disapprove of your decision not to host, but I will defend to the death your right to decide"?
x.com/spikedonline...
x.com/spikedonline...
November 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
What might Voltaire have said? "I disapprove of your decision not to host, but I will defend to the death your right to decide"?
x.com/spikedonline...
x.com/spikedonline...
Reposted by Graham Smith
#ECJ: A Member State’s police may decide, on the basis of internal rules, whether to keep the biometric and #DNA data of someone accused or suspected of a criminal offence #DataProtection 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo...
Communiqués de presse - Cour de justice de l'Union européenne
Court of Justice of the European Union
curia.europa.eu
November 20, 2025 at 8:50 AM
#ECJ: A Member State’s police may decide, on the basis of internal rules, whether to keep the biometric and #DNA data of someone accused or suspected of a criminal offence #DataProtection 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo...
Reposted by Graham Smith
… How can an algorithm ever take account of off-platform contextual information that makes the difference between legal and illegal? 2/2 www.cyberleagle.com/2023/05/know...
Knowing the unknowable: musings of an AI content moderator
Welcome to the lair of a fully trained, continuously updated AI content moderator. You won’t notice me most of the time: only when I - or my...
www.cyberleagle.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:53 AM
… How can an algorithm ever take account of off-platform contextual information that makes the difference between legal and illegal? 2/2 www.cyberleagle.com/2023/05/know...
Reposted by Graham Smith
That really doesn’t grapple with the Act’s problems, I’m afraid. Starting with the fundamentally flawed health and safety analogy, finishing with no mention of the current Ofcom consultation on proactive content filtering technology (always of more concern than reactive takedown).
November 20, 2025 at 7:01 AM
That really doesn’t grapple with the Act’s problems, I’m afraid. Starting with the fundamentally flawed health and safety analogy, finishing with no mention of the current Ofcom consultation on proactive content filtering technology (always of more concern than reactive takedown).
Reposted by Graham Smith
Most of the criticisms of Britain's Online Safety Act seem to have been wrong: www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Britain’s controversial experiment in regulating the internet
The effects of a new law have been less dramatic than critics warned
www.economist.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Most of the criticisms of Britain's Online Safety Act seem to have been wrong: www.economist.com/britain/2025...