Notices by Open Rights Group (openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org)

The UK social media ban is coming.

That means every adult having to show their ID to get online.

Age verification puts privacy at risk. Curbs freedom of expression. And simply doesn't work to keep kids safe online.

The government needs to change course. But the clock is ticking.

Sign the petition ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/say-no-id-online-access

#ageverification #privacy #freedomofexpression #onlinesafety #socialmediaban #ukpolitics #ukpol #digitalrights

We’ve been put on a watchlist 🚨

“It is deeply concerning to see the Prevent duty being used to enable the monitoring of people and organisations simply because they are critical of the programme.

That raises serious questions about freedom of expression and the right to dissent and protest [in the UK].”

💬 @sarahlasoye for ORG.

https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/25/social-media-users-end-government-list-speaking-prevent-29649220/

#Prevent #surveillance #ukpolitics #ukpol

We don’t need ID checkpoints to make the Internet safer.

We’re proposing rights-respecting alternatives, including interoperability.

Explore global harms to the open Internet, and the remedies being proposed on this new map.

#StopKillingtheInternet

https://www.stopkillingtheinternet.com/map?kind=remedy

#onlinesafety #privacy #surveillance #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol

Coming up this week 🔔

It's the first of a series of townhall events delivered by the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition.

Join us in London to explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are currently being used by the Met.

🗓️ Thurs 17 September
🕕 6-9pm
📍The Liberation Centre, SW9 7QR

Register now ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/events/safety-not-surveillance-london-townhall/

#surveillance #policing #metpolice #ai #precrime #ukpolitics #ukpol

Cover your bits, the UK government wants to put scanning tech on your phone.

The aim? To prevent kids receiving and sending nudes. But it'll be there as default for everyone, unless you go through age verification to disable it.

It's a disproportionate move that'll compromise privacy and security.

Read our blog ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/nudity-scanning-tech-will-leave-us-more-exposed/

#privacy #surveillance #onlinesafety #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol

AI is seeping into the UK public sector. But at what cost?

Our new report finds that its adoption is opaque, unaccountable and for the benefit of Big Tech, not the public.

This is a rallying cry for the Minister for AI to regulate public sector AI systems in accordance with human rights.

Read more ➡️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/org-and-mps-call-for-public-sector-use-of-ai-to-be-regulated/

#ai #publicsector #bigtech #humanrights #ukpolitics #ukpol

Coming up, the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition is holding townhall events across the country.

Join us to explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ tech is being used by local police forces. And what can be done about it.

⚫ London – 17 September
⚫ Manchester – 24 September
⚫ Bristol – 1 October

Book now ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/safety-not-surveillance-townhall/

#surveillance #policing #precrime #facialrecognition #ai #ukpolitics #ukpol

Young people have their say: rethink the UK social media ban.

It makes a bad situation worse. Teens are just being pushed into unregulated spaces.

A ban does nothing to actually tackle the cause of online harms coming from the business model of the platforms themselves.

That’s what we need to fix.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/prime-minister-burnham-uk-government-scotland-keir-starmer-b3031838.html

#socialmediaban #ageverification #bigtech #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

The use of AI in UK asylum decision-making is a disaster.

AI hallucinated a document that led to an asylum application being denied.

Applicants aren't being informed that opaque AI tools are being used in their case, nor being given the opportunity to correct errors churned out by these opaque tools.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jul/28/home-office-used-ai-hallucinated-information-to-refuse-asylum-claim-judge-suggests

#ai #asylum #immigration #migrants #homeoffice #ukpolitics #ukpol

A new UK Prime Minister is a fresh opportunity to stand up to Big Tech.

We must break the excessive power that a handful of US-based companies have over our lives.

We've joined with partner organisations to end this dependency and unlock British innovation.

Read the joint letter ➡️ https://www.openrightsgroup.org/app/uploads/2026/07/Letter-to-Prime-Minister-Andy-Burnham.pdf

#burnham #bigtech #ai #digitalsovereignty #ukpolitics #ukpol

TOMORROW ⏰️

We're hosting a special event on UK Digital Sovereignty.

We'll explore how the UK can build back control over our digital infrastructure, data and tech with open source.

Hear from @jim, @megafreda.eurosky.social and @jmaris.

🗓️ 15 July
🕧️ 6-8pm BST
💻️ Online

Register now ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/events/from-digital-dependence-to-digital-sovereignty/

#digitalsovereignty #techsovereignty #opensource #ukpolitics #ukpol

"Entrenching a climate of surveillance across public life."

"People’s faces being scanned without consent and being added to lists is worrying enough, but the speed which Facewatch technology now makes it possible for someone to encounter the police force in the middle of their daily shop is a really dangerous escalation."

🗣️ Sarah Lasoye for ORG.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/10/facewatch-facial-recognition-uk-shops-instantly-alerts-police-civil-liberties

#facialrecognition #surveillance #policing #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

Free expression is a human right. This includes the right to receive and impart information.

Children have this right too.

As Scotland's Children's Commissioner said, the social media ban “would not currently be a proportionate, effective, or enforceable way to protect children's rights".

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/scotland-childrens-commissioner-hits-starmer-092635827.html

#socialmediaban #socialmedia #censorship #freeexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

“LGBTQ+ teens in particular may rely on social media for crucial information, exploration and support.

The ban will also impact how children access and share information that is important for their participation in democracy, as well as for their health and wellbeing."

🗣️ ORG for Queer AF.

https://www.wearequeeraf.com/youth-social-media-bans-should-raise-privacy-concerns-for-everyone/

#socialmediaban #lgbt #lgbtqia #freeexpression #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol

Defend the open Internet 🌐

Digital ID checks behind the social media ban and beyond blow a hole in free expression and privacy.

VPN restrictions and encryption-busting device scanning are due to follow.

As a UK grassroots organisation, we need you to help fight for our human rights.

Donate ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/build-our-grassroots-power-defend-open-internet

#StopKillingTheInternet #socialmediaban #vpn #encryption #e2ee #privacy #freeexpression #digitalrights #humanrights

This #WorldRefugeeDay we’re calling for a ban on the use of AI in the UK asylum system.

The hostile environment is being automated with little transparency and limited rights of appeal.

People seeking safety shouldn’t be reduced to a case number, a data point in opaque systems.

Read our blog ➡️ https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/this-refugee-week-take-courage/

Write to your MP ➡️ https://action.openrightsgroup.org/ban-ai-tools-asylum-decision-making

#RefugeeWeek #ai #asylum #immigration #ukpolitics #ukpol

The UK government could announce restrictions on VPNs next month.

This would threaten our privacy and security.

VPNs keep young people safe from harassment. Businesses secure. Journalists, activists and whistleblowers protected.

Here's why we must #ProtectVPNs 🧵

Sign the petition if you agree ⬇️

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

#vpn #vpns #cybersecurity #privacy #onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #ageverification #StopKillingTheInternet #ukpolitics #ukpol

"John Edwards' departure is a chance for the [UK] Government to appoint a regulator with teeth, and reset the regulators' approach of providing data protection in name only."

"Parliament must ensure that the future Commission is run by professionals who want the law enforced, including against government data failures."

🗣️ ORG's @jim.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0eyq7rnn22o

#ICO #ResetTheICO #dataprotection #gdpr #privacy #ukpolitics #ukpol

🚨 First the social media ban, now the UK government wants to restrict VPNs 🚨

VPNs are a vital cybersecurity tool for businesses, politicians, journalists and families to protect data and communications.

Banning or requiring digital ID checks before buying VPNs would increase cybercrime risks and expose IP addresses to predators.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2217934/vpn-ban-table-july-labour

#vpn #socialmediaban #ageverification #ukpolitics #cybersecurity #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

This #RefugeeWeek, we're calling on UK politicians to show courage and stand up for people seeking safety!

That means fighting back against the Home Office's potentially unlawful use of AI in asylum decision-making.

Tell your MP to back an immediate ban ➡️ https://action.openrightsgroup.org/ban-ai-tools-asylum-decision-making

#asylum #ai #immigration #homeoffice #migrants #ukpolitics #ukpol