Coming up on Monday! Come on down to our social to catch up with the latest in digital rights and meet new people. Sign up now ⬇️

⏰ NEXT WEEK ⏰ We're going beyond the screen and hosting a meet up IRL. Whether you're a supporter or just curious, everyone is welcome to pop down. Hear from our team, mingle and join the movement! 🗓️ 10 Nov, 6:30-9pm 📍 Newspeak House, LDN Sign up now ⬇️

Human rights underpin our everyday lives, often in invisible ways but always there when you need them. Easily sacrificed for political expediency. Hard felt by all of us when gone. ORG joined @libertyhq.bsky.social and hundreds of groups to defend the ECHR ✊ www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Cookies feed the beast of targeted advertising 🍪 The ICO wants the industry to use less less-invasive forms of tracking by exempting them from cookie consent rules. But will this stop the privacy-be-damned trade in our data? Our roundtable had its say ⬇️ www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/the-fut...

Reimagining Digital ID 💭 ORG's @sarahalsherif.bsky.social is on the panel to discuss how the introduction of Digital ID must learn from research in Global Majority contexts and consider the implications for migrants and refugees. 🗓️ Sat 8 November Register now ⬇️ www.redid.net/events-1/lon...

Meta's new subscription service monetises our data rights 🏧 Users must consent to the use of their personal data for targeted advertising, or cough up the dosh to opt out. Meta must offer a tracking free version to implement this in a lawful way. www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releas...

ORG is hiring 🚀 We're looking for an expert Consultant to develop a policy on the use of AI in the immigration/asylum system in the UK and set out the protections needed to respect migrants’ rights. Get in touch by Sunday 9 November. Find out more ⬇️ www.openrightsgroup.org/consultancy-...

Debated "A law abiding citizen has Nothing to Fear from surveillance" in Durham Union last night, alongside Professor Charles Raab and Rebecca Vincent; proposing was Professor Anthony Glees. #digtalid #privacy #durham #durhamunion

Hey, London! Why not log off for the night and meet in person? Come on down to get the latest on our campaigns from the Online Safety Act to Digital IDs and more. Everyone is welcome! 🗓️ Monday 10 November 🕡 6.30–9pm 📍 Newspeak House, E2 7DG Sign up now ⬇️ www.openrightsgroup.org/events/org-l...

We've had reports of people being unable to access their eVisa when boarding a flight to the UK. The airline made them buy an ETA for visitors to the UK, even though they have the right to live here. If this has happened to you, we'd love to hear from you Get in touch: [email protected]

Migrants, have you been able to access your eVisa since the Amazon Web Services outage? If you have had problems, please do let us know in the comments or by emailing [email protected]

Practice Safe Text for Global Encryption Day 🔒 Messaging apps we use to chat, share and plan shield us from scams, stalking and sextortion. But the Online Safety Act contains a time bomb that lets the government break encryption. Find out more ➡️ www.openrightsgroup.org/campaign/sav...

The AWS outage today proves how fragile our digital infrastructure can be. Now, imagine the government had introduced #DigitalID cards on that same system. Who’s responsible when outages or breaches occur? Offline alternatives to digital ID MUST be protected.

Data is used to target and surveil migrants. That's why we've put together a toolkit with @positiveactionh.bsky.social so you can know your rights ✊ Find out what organisations know about you, how to correct errors and make a complaint. Download now ⬇️ www.openrightsgroup.org/publications...

Ofcom risks installing a production line of political censorship under the Online Safety Act. One that will knock dissent off our feeds in real time under a vague and unpredictable system. Tell Ofcom to defend online protest! Reply by 20 October ⏰ action.openrightsgroup.org/online-safet...

Twitchers. TikTokkers. Youtubbers. Age verification could be about to hit livestreaming. All under-18s will have engagement and self-expression crushed by Ofcom's proposals. There must a risk-based approach, not a blanket ban. Reply to the consultation ➡️ action.openrightsgroup.org/online-safet...

The limit does not exist when it comes to the Online Safety Act. Ofcom is pushing at the edges of this law to age-gate livestreaming. This will prevent young content creators from engaging with audiences and put a lid on self-expression. Find out more ⬇️ www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/online-...

Don't let activism blink out of sight! Ofcom wants all social posts to be scanned for 'illegal' content before they appear in our feeds. And the AI doing it will go OTT. Posts about protest could get removed or suppressed. Say no to more censorship ⬇️ action.openrightsgroup.org/online-safet...

Apple and Home Office agree to drop legal claim over encryption backdoor (continues to apply to UK citizens, qwho cannot use Apple ADP) https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366632561/Apple-and-Home-Office-agree-to-drop-legal-claim-over-encryption-backdoor #apple #adp #e2ee #ipact

Ofcom could disconnect livestreamers from audiences. New age verification proposals mean anyone who doesn't prove they're over 18 will be cut off from comments, reactions, recordings or gifts on their streams. Tell the consultation: no more censorship ⬇️ action.openrightsgroup.org/online-safet...

Hack of age verification firm may have exposed 70,000 Discord users’ ID photos #onlinesafetyact #wtf #wetoldyouso https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/oct/09/hack-age-verification-firm-discord-users-id-photos

Fancy handing over all your data to Oracle or Palantair? Lets make that easy with the new Digital ID cards! Join the campaign: Say No to Digital IDs action.openrightsgroup.org/join-campaig... #idcards

You will be forced to pay £2.99 per month to use Facebook or Instagram if you don't want to have your personal data being used for targeted ads. Meta is forcing us to CONSENT or PAY! Tell your MP to support the EDM calling for an end to Stalker Ads. action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-meta-no...

Is cookie consent going to change in the UK? Read Mariano delli Santi's Blog on how the ICO’s new enforcement approach toward regulating advertising shouldn't undermine our privacy. www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/the-fut...

‘Digital IDs really become about surveillance and profiling the population. Once these systems are in place, they expand and expand.’ Listen to James Baker, ORG’s Platform Power and Free Expression program manager on @LBCNews www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7sy...

ORG will be at the Campaign Fringe at #Lab25. Come visit our stall to talk effective campaigning for digital privacy and defending our rights online 🛡️ 📍 Camp and Furnace, 67 Greenland St, Liverpool L1 0BY, UK 🕛 11:00 - 19:00 luma.com/rpu1av03

The Government planned new digital ID scheme, risks becoming a passport to everyday life, where without it, you can’t work or rent. Once in place, these systems always expand, creating surveillance, and exclusion. Support the fight, donate to ORG: action.openrightsgroup.org/make-one-don...

Today it's a mandatory digital ID card to prove you have the right to work but in the future you might have to use it to access the NHS, to rent or buy a home, or to access benefits. It's time to fight back, 'Say No to Digital IDs'. Join the Campaign: action.openrightsgroup.org/join-campaig...

We're in a cost of living crisis and Labour wants to bring in digital ID cards for everyone. They're risking turning the UK into a pre-crime state where we constantly have to prove who we are just to go about our daily lives. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Meta is denying people their legal right to object to their personal data being used in targeted online adverts. Urge your MP to stand up to Meta and support your right to object to your personal data being used for targeted advertising. action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-meta-no...

So apparently part of the issue with #threads is that they moved domain from threads.net to threads.com with the result that fediverse domain handles are no longer obvious and transparent. Kind of screams neglect and don’t care won’t fix.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council ( @hfcouncil.bsky.social ) are making cuts and yet they're allocating another £3.2 million to facial recognition, even recommending the use of drones as an "enforcement aid".

First people were arrested for projecting an image. Now an ad van protesting Trump has been stopped. This heavy handed approach to Policing speech is harming free expression in the UK www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic... #censorship #freedomofexpression #Trump

"Ad van with picture of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein confiscated by cops in Windsor" #trump visit to the UK is delivering a free speech clampdown. #freespeech #onlinesafetyact https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/ad-van-picture-donald-trump-35916462

Perhaps unsurprisingly, threads.com seems increasingly broken from an #activitypub perspective; subscriptions to external accounts frequently fail, and it is not picking up posts from certain user accounts. #threads

Elon Musk has attacked the UKs democracy, calling for Parliament to be dissolved, and Meta is denying us even the basic right to opt out of personalised ads. We’re locked into platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or Meta (Facebook, Instagram) because that’s where the people are. But costs are high.

VPNs must not face the chop 🚫 Next week the Lords will debate whether VPNs undermine the Online Safety Act. Banning or blocking VPNs will shatter security and free expression in a self-defeating attempt to make the unworkable workable. Read our briefing ⬇️ www.openrightsgroup.org/publications...

The Online Safety Act is ballooning in scope. Bumping up 'self-harm' content as a priority offence means these sort of posts will be stripped from social media for adults and kids. ORG's James Baker explains how this change to the law will result in therapeutic or support content being censored.

Censorship creeps onwards 🤐 Ignoring issues with the Online Safety Act, the government is using Henry VIII powers to engulf more content. Aimed at blocking 'self-harm' content, algorithms will misidentify support resources and content will vanish behind age gates. www.digit.fyi/uk-gov-to-to...

The Palestine Action ban is hitting the streets and our feeds. Beyond mass arrests, the Online Safety Act requires social media platforms to block 'illegal' content. This is leading to the over-censorship of content relating to Gaza and protest. Read more ⬇️ www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releas...

Government appears to have learnt nothing from the #onlinesafetyact debacle, and is planning more of the same. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/online-safety-laws-to-strengthen-to-protect-people-of-all-ages-from-devastating-self-harm-content Via Owen Boswarva

UK Government announcement of additional Online Safety Act regulations, not yet published www.gov.uk/government/n... Note the direction of travel: OSA requirements that currently oblige platforms to proactively "protect" children from content will be extended to protect adults.

Social media is an "unhealthy online environment" 🤮 The problem lies with the business model that underpins these monopolistic platforms: they promote ragebait to rake in the money. ORG's Jim Killock told BBC News what needs to be done: ✅ Competition. ✅ User empowerment. ✅ Decentralisation.

The Online Safety Act is an unworkable mess 💩 Can it be changed? And if so, is there the political will to do it? Instead of doubling down on more censorship, Ofcom and the government must take steps to protect freedom of expression. ORG's @sarachitseko.bsky.social and James Baker discuss ⬇️

Content takedowns under the Online Safety Act could go further ⚠️ Damaging free expression has knock-on effects. It limits what we get to know about in the public interest and how we can hold power to account. ORG's @sarachitseko.bsky.social and James Baker discuss the impact on live-streaming ⬇️

The UK's Online Safety Act's push to protect kids online through content blocking and age checks sounds good—until you look deeper. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...

Intrusive facial recognition is being rolled out by the police without parliamentary scrutiny or public debate. We need to regulate the use of this invasive and harmful technology before we sleepwalk into a surveillance state rooted in racial bias. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

🚨WARNING Facial recognition tech is being used at Notting Hill Carnival this weekend. If you are attending, know your rights - www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/advice_infor...

The Met Police are deploying biased facial recognition at Notting Hill Carnival this weekend. We joined civil society groups in calling for the plans to be scrapped. It “unfairly targets the community that carnival exists to celebrate.” #SafetyNotSurveillance www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

The Online Safety Act is trashing free speech 👁️‍🗨️ Automated filters designed to blot out 'illegal' content will result in over-moderation. This has serious consequences, particularly when combined with the proscription of Palestine Action. Hear from ORG's @sarachitseko.bsky.social and James Baker ⬇️