UK's Online Safety Act Implemented July 2025

[Terminal Velocity]

Is not my intention to go into politics even remotely, I'm just very curious how the Britons of this site get along with this new measure.

For those who don't know, in the UK since July 25, 2025 is mandatory to show your ID and other credentials to prove your age in order to access everything that is age restricted on the internet, small and large sites, YouTube and more, they even talking about Wikipedia

So how this is going? And you outside of the UK, what do you think about this? It may very well be an experiment that will implemented in your country too.

My opinion is that Google already knows who we all are perhaps with some shady corners which they want to clarify. But more or less we are all well known and by extension we are known to our governments. So showing your ID to Google doesn't change your status at all in my opinion. But I wouldn't want to show my credentials to every corner of the web where I'm asked for. I think it is dangerous and they should reconsider that. The internet in my case would become a much smaller place

 

[blizzardfromoz]

This is a massive topic. Should we have government or no government? For example, I often tell people I would rather be air dropped into the jungles of Africa in the middle of the night then to be air dropped into a country with no laws, rules, or regulations. I probably have a better chance of surviving in Africa with the wild beasts than with man that is allowed to fully express himself.

If you go to certain countries on vacation they will rape the wife and kids while the husband is watching or getting beat up. This is not uncommon. Such places I'm assuming have weak governments in place.

On the other hand too much government is also a problem and you only need to look back through history (and currently) to see what kind of stuff results from government overreach.

The internet is currently a cesspool of filth and vulgarity. A very dangerous place for minors (and adults). I think the idea of having to show your credentials is a good idea. People should not be able to freely access anything they want on the internet.

We live in a unique time. Never before has one had access to all kinds of things in their own home and a lot of is vulgar. This would probably be the best for everyone even if some don't like it and I fully understand that this is probably a power grab by certain politicians (like they care for kids or anyone else for that matter) but I for one would like to see the internet cleaned up.

 

[Terminal Velocity]

This is a massive topic. Should we have government or no government? For example, I often tell people I would rather be air dropped into the jungles of Africa in the middle of the night then to be air dropped into a country with no laws, rules, or regulations. I probably have a better chance of surviving in Africa with the wild beasts than with man that is allowed to fully express himself.

If you go to certain countries on vacation they will rape the wife and kids while the husband is watching or getting beat up. This is not uncommon. Such places I'm assuming have weak governments in place.

On the other hand too much government is also a problem and you only need to look back through history (and currently) to see what kind of stuff results from government overreach.

The internet is currently a cesspool of filth and vulgarity. A very dangerous place for minors (and adults). I think the idea of having to show your credentials is a good idea. People should not be able to freely access anything they want on the internet.

We live in a unique time. Never before has one had access to all kinds of things in their own home and a lot of is vulgar. This would probably be the best for everyone even if some don't like it and I fully understand that this is probably a power grab by certain politicians (like they care for kids or anyone else for that matter) but I for one would like to see the internet cleaned up.

Let's stay away of the theory behind the matter as it is political. I appreciate your view and I disagree completely. First of all kids know how to use VPNs better than us so this measure solves nothing, and in my opinion it is not about the kids, it's all about identifying all the internet users with actual credentials. That way people will think twice before expressing an opinion because, you know, ''We know you and we know where you live'' We are looking at a recipe for old fashioned regimes. Assuming you are not Briton let's see what the Britons have to say

 

[blizzardfromoz]

Let's stay away of the theory behind the matter as it is political.

There was nothing political in my statement. Just a general statement about human behavior and government which is objectively true. If people were inherently good you would not need government. And on the other hand people in government have the same nature at the end of the day so they tend to do bad things as well.

First of all kids know how to use VPNs better than us so this measure solves nothing, and in my opinion it is not about the kids, it's all about identifying all the internet users with actual credentials.

How would a VPN get around credential requirements? For example if a website requires an ID how would using a different IP address get around that?

We are looking at a recipe for old fashioned regimes. Assuming you are not Briton let's see what the Britons have to say

I'm not Briton.

 

[blizzardfromoz]

We are looking at a recipe for old fashioned regimes.

Also I agree with this. There is a problem with the internet and they may be exploiting the problem to increase their power.

 

[Terminal Velocity]

How would a VPN get around credential requirements? For example if a website requires an ID how would using a different IP address get around that?

The sites as I understand they have different policies for UK and different policies for the rest of the world so if you are trying to reach a site from an other country you will have a different access method, no credential needed. For the time being only UK has this problem @Brickwizard

 

[blizzardfromoz]

The sites as I understand they have different policies for UK and different policies for the rest of the world so if you are trying to reach a site from an other country you will have a different access method, no credential needed. For the time being only UK has this problem

Ok true I didn't think about that. Websites are not restricted to a country. Yea then its stupid and pointless. There needs to be some sort of international body that does the regulation then in order for that to work of which I would be in favor of (if they can pull it off with having checks and balances in place).

 

[MikeRocor]

Let's stay away of the theory behind the matter as it is political. I appreciate your view and I disagree completely. First of all kids know how to use VPNs better than us so this measure solves nothing, and in my opinion it is not about the kids, it's all about identifying all the internet users with actual credentials. That way people will think twice before expressing an opinion because, you know, ''We know you and we know where you live'' We are looking at a recipe for old fashioned regimes. Assuming you are not Briton let's see what the Britons have to say

It's never about the kids. The kids' safety is always just a convenient excuse for restrictions and overreach because who's going to say, "No, I don't care about the kids"?

 

[MikeWalsh]

For myself - as a Brit - I object to being treated like a small child that doesn't know its arse from its elbow, and "needs" to be protected from the "big bad wolf". I'm in my mid-60s, and I think I know my own mind by now. This entire business is all designed to enact Orwell's 'Big Brother' for real.....and I've seen this coming for a long time.

But all of a sudden, this is happening across the globe. What's happened in the last 12 months to stir up the world's governments like a hornet's nest? What's triggered all this off?

Something's acted as a flashpoint. And I'd be dead curious to know just what it was.....or is this yet another of the Orange Man's edicts, spilling over to everyone else?

I won't pursue this angle any further, 'cos that's "political". And our staff are VERY hot about stomping on 'political' stuff.....HARD. Don't blame them, either.....if you're going to have rules, I guess ya might as well ensure everybody follows them.

Mike.

 

[KGIII]

Hmm...

I'm not sure how well we can discuss this. Politics is offlimits here, as we all know.

 

[theLegionWithin]

somewhat hesitant to comment as political discussion is entirely doubleplusungood in regards to the rules/regs here - perhaps instead of political discussion it could be rehashed into observations on policy - focusing on the implications of change/observable effects?

as someone who experienced childhood prior to the mass adoption of the Internet (though my formative years were heavily influenced by it), tying personal identity to online presence feels rather dystopian in a Orwellian fashion - but, as @blizzardfromoz mentions, the Internet these days is a hive of scum and villainy... even within carefully curated walled gardens, though it's much less of a wild west than it was 30 years ago when I was introduced to it.

 

[Condobloke]

What in the name of blue blazes is this dribble doing in General Computing?

 

[wizardfromoz]

Hmm...

I'm not sure how well we can discuss this. Politics is offlimits here, as we all know.

and

What in the name of blue blazes is this dribble doing in General Computing?

Agreed, on both counts.

Take it to Reddit or somewhere suitable, please.

Locking this thread, with a view to deleting.

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz