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VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in

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Re: VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in

#21

Post by bapak »

itake wrote: post #14
ethan_smith wrote: post #11

Classic Streisand effect - attempts to restrict content access inevitably lead to widespread adoption of circumvention technologies.

seems to be working in China. While many Chinese use VPN software, many don't bother with the friction and are fine just using rednote and friends.

Leaving the complexity of attempting to circumvent the great firewall aside, VPN isn't free. Not many are willing to drop £60+/year just to avoid identifying yourself on PH. Easier to find a website that doesn't enforce it.

Re: VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in

#22

Post by john01dav »

tapoxi wrote: post #15

I really don't understand why it wasn't just a requirement for Apple and Google to include a client side filter. Parent sets up the phone and it's enabled by default. Much simpler option for everyone involved.

It's because this law isn't about protecting children, but about control of the Internet. They want online activity tied to real identity as a power grab.

Re: VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in

#23

Post by cakealert »

What message does it send when your government tries to impose costs on your preferred behavior while at the same time being unable to do it when you download a single app?

The words that come to mind are malicious and incompetent. The only 'achievement' is to increase contempt towards the government. And the times aren't exactly stable to begin with.

Re: VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in

#24

Post by pydry »

scott_w wrote: post #20
sefrost wrote: post #12

It is only a matter of time before they attempt to regulate VPN usage. Here is an article written by a British MP hinting at that: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/onli...

It definitely seems like she’s conflating two issues: access to pornography and child grooming. I don’t see why she thinks regulating VPNs would reduce the latter.

She doesnt, she just wants to put in Putin-like levels of control and surveillance for the same reasons Putin does.

Re: VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in

#25

Post by airhangerf15 »

john01dav wrote: post #22
tapoxi wrote: post #15

I really don't understand why it wasn't just a requirement for Apple and Google to include a client side filter. Parent sets up the phone and it's enabled by default. Much simpler option for everyone involved.

It's because this law isn't about protecting children, but about control of the Internet. They want online activity tied to real identity as a power grab.

Yea, it's all about a permanent Digital ID and the end of any independent forums. It's the first essential steps before you get to great firewalls and social credit scores.

Remember, Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas already have similar laws in place in the US, so even a nation with better speech and gun laws is still not immune from the slow descent into technocracy.

Re: VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in

#26

Post by lesser-shadow »

itake wrote: post #14
ethan_smith wrote: post #11

Classic Streisand effect - attempts to restrict content access inevitably lead to widespread adoption of circumvention technologies.

seems to be working in China. While many Chinese use VPN software, many don't bother with the friction and are fine just using rednote and friends.

"Seems to be working in China." Yeah, let's follow the example of the authoritarian countries just to prove how liberal "democracies" have nothing to do with freedom.

Re: VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in

#27

Post by zaptheimpaler »

Basically every new law, piece of news or media I see coming from the UK paints a picture of a beat-down, cynical & scared society that's complacent to or in support of increasing surveillance and control by the government. Like maybe Adolescence or basically any mention of the NHS. The crimes they cite like child grooming or terrorism/hate being incited sound pretty terrible too, but I wonder why the UK specifically is taking action - is the issue bigger there, or are they just more aware of and willing to act on it.

Re: VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in

#28

Post by thdhhghgbhy »

The new online safety rules are already being used to shut down government criticism. How it works is their new elite protection squad, if someone is deigned an influential critic of government policy, trawls through your social media posts until they find something against the laws. A lot of government critique is coming from the working class here now, who have virtually no political representation in the UK. As you can imagine, some of these social media posters don't mince their words, and end up getting caught out and arrested.

Re: VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in

#29

Post by syockit »

lesser-shadow wrote: post #26
itake wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

seems to be working in China. While many Chinese use VPN software, many don't bother with the friction and are fine just using rednote and friends.

"Seems to be working in China." Yeah, let's follow the example of the authoritarian countries just to prove how liberal "democracies" have nothing to do with freedom.

The parent comment is not about following examples, but rather that the impact Streisand effect is going to be very limited, and the common folk will not bother to circumvent.
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