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

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

NEW: A global movement to defend the open internet 🌐

Stop Killing the Internet brings creators, communities and civil society together to say: the Internet must remain open, private and free.

ORG is joining the movement as the UK moves to ban social media and scan devices.

Find out more ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/stop-killing-the-internet-new-global-movement-launches/

#StopKillingTheInternet #StopKillingInternet #socialmediaban #openinternet #privacy #freeexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

“Open Rights Group encourages people around the world who want a human-rights based approach to tackling harm to join this movement."

We can't stand by as governments pursue online safety in ways that gut our rights to privacy and free expression.

🗣️ ORG's @JamesBaker.

#StopKillingTheInternet #StopKillingInternet #socialmediaban #openinternet #privacy #freeexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

“Soon it will be virtually impossible to be online in the UK without handing over identity documents or biometric data to unregulated companies.”

The social media ban means EVERY user has to prove they're over 16. This puts millions at risk of their personal data being hacked.

🗣️ ORG's @JamesBaker.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366644294/Big-tech-must-introduce-age-checks-to-support-UKs-under-16s-social-media-ban

#stopKillingInternet #StopKillingTheInternet #socialmediaban #socialmedia #ageverification #onlinesafety #privacy #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol

Age verification is being extended to block vast areas of the Internet.

That means millions of people handing over ID documents and biometric data to unregulated providers.

It becomes a treasure trove for hackers, as has already been seen since introducing age checks with the Discord data leak.

#socialmediaban #socialmedia #starmer #stopkillinginternet #ukpolitics #ukpol #onlinesafety #ageverification #digitalid #privacy #censorship #discord

Banning under-16s online restricts access to information while creating huge privacy risks.

Instead the UK government should target the root cause of online harms.

That means tackling the business model of social media platforms – from targeted ads and algorithms to user lock-in.

Sign the petition ⬇️

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/break-big-tech

#socialmediaban #socialmedia #starmer #stopkillinginternet #ukpolitics #ukpol #onlinesafety #ageverification #digitalid #privacy #censorship

A social media ban addresses the symptoms, not the cause of online harms.

Platforms rely on extensive data collection to target ads and keep users online for longer.

Algorithms prioritise content most likely to capture attention and drive interaction, spreading harmful, polarising and addictive content.

#socialmediaban #socialmedia #starmer #stopkillinginternet #ukpolitics #ukpol #onlinesafety #ageverification #digitalid #privacy #censorship

An under-16s ban means making every adult prove they're over 16 for access.

The data shared for age verification can also be used by platforms and the wider data broker ecosystem to send you ads and customised content.

It's a policy that fuels the very business model that generates online harms.

#socialmediaban #socialmedia #starmer #stopkillinginternet #ukpolitics #ukpol #onlinesafety #ageverification #digitalid #privacy #censorship

"Every failed attempt to make children safer online is followed by more surveillance and censorship.

Children have rights too and these policies will harm their free expression and privacy rights, and push them into less regulated spaces."

🗣️ ORG's James Baker on the under-16s social media ban.

https://www.theregister.com/personal-tech/2026/06/15/britain-plots-digital-bedtime-after-kicking-under-16s-off-social-media/5255341

#socialmediaban #ukpol #onlinesafety #stopKillingInternet #ukpolitics

A social media ban won't fix online harms.

That's because the business model creating them is left untouched.

It just makes every user do an ID check to prove they’re over 16.

Instead we should tackle the attention capture economy of targeted ads and personalised algorithms.

Sign our petition ⬇️

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/break-big-tech

#socialmediaban #onlinesafety #socialmedia #stopKillingInternet #ukpol #ukpolitics #privacy #censorship #bigtech

Social media bans don't work.

Yet it's happening globally as leaders try to grab headlines with creeping digital ID checks.

This doesn't take on how platforms are designed to capture users' attention with harmful content through data-driven algorithms so they can sell ads.

ORG's @JamesBaker explains ➡️ https://peertube.openrightsgroup.org/w/bBTjPwubE92HMVGtt9dN2Z

#stopKillingInternet #socialmediaban #socialmedia #onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #privacy #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol #kierstarmer