The Online Safety Act is now in place within the UK, with many other countries also creating similar policies. I think that this policy is stupid and unrealistic. This policy is the equivalent of putting a baby gate on every door just because some people would like it.
Even though its supporters will argue that it makes the internet safer for kids. But does this policy really need to be in place? Really the answer to that is no. This policy in my opinion isn’t to do with online safety. But instead it is actually about controlling and limiting what people can do online. If parents wanted to try and make the internet safer for children there is better ways to do this.
Firstly, there is software that exists that parents can buy that prevents users looking at ‘harmful’ content. In fact many workplaces/schools have this software available such as Interguard. Such software also monitors every user’s actions even down to a user moving the mouse. When it comes down to internet usage the software will blocks specified websites and any website within given categories such as games etc. Parent’s can easily buy such software as well blockers that can block content that they don’t want children finding. In fact most network providers even offer them in their packages.
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Although, with some sites it won’t block until the software knows what it is until users block it. Such software even flags users that type specified words into the computer. For example, if you type anything that has the ‘adult’ into a search engine. The software installed onto the system will then flag the offending user. Software will even flag a user was looking at content that isn’t adult. For an example, a user could be searching for ‘adult shoe sizes’ or ‘daily calorie intake for adults’. Despite the intentions being innocent the software cannot differenciate between good and bad use of the words flagged.
With regards to the act being Orwellian there is some sections in the act that makes this act Orwellian. The first section is section 44. In this section the Secretary of State can change the rules on censorship without requiring any input of parliament. In other words, if the Secretary of State wanted to ban something for any reason then they could feel free to do so, without question.
The second section is section 179 which is even more alarming. Clause 3 of Section 179 can easily twisted. The clause is “at the time of sending it, the person intended the message, or the information in it, to cause non-trivial psychological or physical harm to a likely audience”. This clause is a demonstration the true intentions of the act. As it isn’t about stopping rumours, threats of harm etc. Clause 3 can be taken to shut down anyone that states something that anyone deems harmful in anyway. Even a statement like “strawberry ice cream is better than vanilla ice cream” could be classed as harmful by this section.
Also the rules in place don’t work. Software used by websites can bypass it by using the photo mode in Death Stranding (and other games that offer such mode). VPN’s are usable to bypass the software so it isn’t foolproof.
Whilst plenty sites that the act originally was intended to be against now ask for ID before accessing. Many other sites/games are limiting who can access content on their sites as a result of this. With examples such as Steam(which has limited x rated games to those without credit cards. it could even go into other games that are for adults like Skyrim.) and Xbox Live(which requires age verification to use social features online.) . The list of content deemed harmful that is increasing. This includes educational websites,news articles(can be locked or even potentially removed.) and even websites that feature medical information. I think it is silly that you may now need ID just to do homework for school.
Also, it can be harmful for others. One example scenario of where it is harmful in the real world, is that you are in a lift and a medical emergency happens. However, you don’t know what to do and may want to search for what to do. The fact that you can’t look up what to do on a phone because of this act blocking such sites,isn’t a good thing and would cause actual harm.
This act could potentially (if not actually) start the beginning of a new internet. One in which you cannot say nor do anything with ID or approval. Whilst it may start in the UK, it could be worldwide unless enough speak out against it.