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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley
@jamesjbradley.uk
49 followers 120 following 31 posts
🔸Lib Dem Councillor for Olton Ward, Solihull MBC. Views and thoughts my own. Published & promoted by J. Bradley by himself & Solihull Liberal Democrats at 47 Winthorpe Drive, B91 3UW
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Sep 9
This law needs to be repealed. It fundamentally does not work and makes things worse.

This is dumb and dangerous legislation passed and implemented by people who are either ignorant or malicious.
UK Age Verification Data Confirms What Critics Always Predicted: Mass Migration To Sketchier Sites
New data from the UK’s age verification rollout provides hard evidence of what internet governance experts have been warning about for years: these laws don’t protect children—they syst…
www.techdirt.com
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Aug 26
Local government funding is in crisis and that includes my own authority, Solihull Council.

This path is not sustainable. We need to know how the Conservatives plan to turn this ship around.
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Reposted by James Bradley
libdems.org.uk
Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · Aug 22
It’s Always Sunny in Surrey ☀️
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Reposted by James Bradley
eff.org
Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · Aug 12
“This is probably the worst thing in my view that has ever happened to our rights online,” EFF’s @thejasonkelley.com tells David Ruiz on @Malwarebytes.com’s Lock and Code podcast, discussing the security and privacy risks of online age verification. www.malwarebytes.com/blog/podcas...
“The worst thing” for online rights: An age-restricted grey web (Lock and Code S06E16)
This week on the Lock and Code podcast, we speak with EFF Activism Director Jason Kelley about online age verification and the "grey web."
www.malwarebytes.com
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Reposted by James Bradley
eddavey.libdems.org.uk
Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · Aug 8
Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza is abhorrent and it's increasingly clear that his goal is ethnic cleansing.

The UK can't just sit on its hands. The Prime Minister must stop all arms exports to Israel and sanction Netanyahu and his cabinet.
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Aug 6
Excellent write up as always from @mmasnick.bsky.social

It’s rather sad and disappointing to see the UK go down this path and for the political response from all the established parties to be so poor

(with only Reform actually speaking out on some of the real fundamental issues at play)
Didn’t Take Long To Reveal The UK’s Online Safety Act Is Exactly The Privacy-Crushing Failure Everyone Warned About
Well, well, well. The “age assurance” part of the UK’s Online Safety Act has finally gone into effect, with its age checking requirements kicking in a week and a half ago. And what do you kno…
www.techdirt.com
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Aug 6
Legal but harmful is such a vague definition and the penalties so severe that it can only ever cause content to be over suppressed

No mention of the inherent privacy and fraud risks of age verification either, just concern of VPNs as a bypass

These are features of the act’s intentions, not bugs
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Jul 30
If you wonder why people feel so disengaged with the political system, maybe look at Government Ministers slandering people who disagree with them.

You should listen to the people you represent. Whether you agree or disagree with them, their view matters just the same.
jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Jul 30
Maybe a zero knowledge proof can be created to mitigate some of these risks.

But instead we have the Labour Party accusing people of supporting predators and peadophiles. From a Minister, this is frankly pathetic and shows disdain for the public engage with the issue that matter to them
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Jul 30
The current implementations don’t work and simultaneously create huge potential for data breaches. All of these sites, all of these verification providers? It’s a matter of when, not if.
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Jul 30
In a world built around digital connectivity, digital freedom of speech is essential. The OSA is not fit for purpose. Regardless of the good intentions, this effects of this law are draconian.

Regulate the entire internet like Facebook? Then Facebook is all you get.
Petition: Repeal the Online Safety Act
We want the Government to repeal the Online Safety act.
petition.parliament.uk
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Jul 23
Am I write to say that having the bars higher up the Y axis means income at a set level in more concentrated in a given area, hence the higher inequality?
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markpackuk.bsky.social
Mark Pack @markpackuk.bsky.social · May 3
A letter to The Guardian.
Your front page graphic on the local election results (1 May, print edition) omits the party that finished second but includes those that finished third and fourth. You wouldn't publish a Premier League table and omit Arsenal, so why leave out the Liberal Democrats? Yours sincerely, Mark Pack
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Apr 24
25th July is going to be fascinating because this entire act is unworkable and will just fundamentally break the internet in the UK.

A lot of people are going to start using VPNs and a lot of people are going to be unable to access the internet as they except. If this even happens…?
Ofcom announces new rules for tech firms to keep children safe online
Companies will be legally required to block children’s access to harmful content under UK’s Online Safety Act or face large fines
www.theguardian.com
jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Apr 19
International shipping is truly fascinating. I have a parcel due from the USA, shipping to myself in the UK

I would have assumed the most efficient route and maybe this is that, but seems a little wild.

East Coast USA > West Coast > Shanghai(!!) > Canada > New York

SC > NY is out I guess?
A world map, centred on the North Pacific. Shows a parcel route from the USA to China back to the USA
jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Apr 9
We’ve already seen a UK site shutter (although I believe now saved with some big donations from users).

The online safety act doesn’t care about platform size. It burdens them with massive compliance costs just the same.

If you regulate everyone like tech giants, tech giants is all you get
Death Of A Forum: How The UK’s Online Safety Act Is Killing Communities
We’ve been warning for years that the UK’s Online Safety Act would be a disaster for the open internet. Its supporters accused us of exaggerating, or “shilling” for Big Tech…
www.techdirt.com
jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Apr 9
Will be very interesting to see the outcome of this investigation and what is required of the platform.

The internet is such a huge part of modern life that how we regulate speech will affect massive amounts of stuff. And regulating harmful speech has the side effect of regulating all speech
Online suicide forum investigated under new UK digital safety laws
Ofcom’s first investigation to look into whether site took adequate measures to shield users from illegal content
www.theguardian.com
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Apr 4
bylinetimes.com/2024/11/11/t...

Excellent article from @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social and @bylinetimes.bsky.social.

Captures and speaks to the importance of an emotional connection with voters and making sure you connect to the issues on the same level they experience them
Bot Verification
bylinetimes.com
jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Mar 5
💯
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Mar 5
6/ Regardless, it is great to see this area recognised as the important and long standing part of Olton that it is, and that it is not “like entering a different county, let alone a different part of Solihull”, as the Conservatives had argued

It is as much a part of Olton and Solihull as any other
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Mar 5
5/ Despite this, the ruling Conservatives disregarded the consensus of the local ward elected representatives and the views of the local residents.

Surely more weight should always be given to the residents and representatives of the affected ward, especially on matters of community identity.
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Mar 5
4/ Finally, it is disappointing the way this was handled in Solihull Council when brought to a vote.

All 3 Olton Councillors (myself included) supported this area remaining in Olton.

2 of 3 Lyndon Councillors supported this area remaining in Olton.
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Mar 5
3/ Residents from this area that I represent together elicited the greatest level of response, with more than 50 responses against the proposed move of this area from Olton to Lyndon.

It is collectively thanks to these residents this area is staying in Olton. Thank you to all of you!
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Mar 5
2/ Residents are not actively contacted by the Commission, so myself and the local Lib Dem’s took it upon ourselves to reach out to the affected residents during the consultation so they were aware of the proposed changes.

Simply informing residents feels essential to any full consultation.
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jamesjbradley.uk
James Bradley @jamesjbradley.uk · Mar 5
1/ Yesterday, the Boundary Commission published their final report for Solihull MBC.

Confirmed in this is that the Scott Road, Richmond Road area north of the Grand Union Canal will be remaining as part of Olton, something that I feel was the only correct decision that could have been made.
Map showing the new ward boundaries for Olton Ward, as published by the Boundary Comission Screenshot of the Boundary Comission report (specifically of page 13 and the top of page 14) discussing the Olton ward boundaries.
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