Mobile networks selling aggregated and anonymised data isn't a new thing - here's my reporting on how TfL were using it, from 2023. (Though the bit about using web browsing data to identify target users is... a new level of Orwellian!) takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/its-crazy-...

“At the DfT’s request, O2 trawled people’s web browsing habits, including those of children, to identify “EV users”. … It then tracked those people’s physical movements around the country and sent “anonymised and aggregated” data to the government.” www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/25c4107...

For all Greens out there, the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office’s helpful quarterly reminder of the proportion of police time spent waging the War on Drugs.

Baroness Kidron has tabled an amendment that would criminalise most, if not all, general-purpose LLMs bills.parliament.uk/publications... The offence says "generative AI search service" but there's no search or service element in the definition – just models. #CPBill #genAI #censorship #techpolicy

if you believe in any form of free enterprise at all, the idea that the Pentagon can not only cut off your contract but designate you a supply chain risk and prevent other companies from buying from you just because you won't build killbots for the government should be terrifying

SUCCESS - The High Court has rejected the CPS's appeal to reinstate Hamit Coskun’s conviction for burning a Quran in an act of protest. It is not the state’s job to police religious sensibilities. We welcome this rejection of blasphemy law by the back door. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/02...

OSAN are also back on their ‘overarching duty of care’ jag: “Insert an overarching duty of care into the legislative framework to require a more systemic approach to risk assessment and mitigation from regulated services with regard to regulated content.”

So the first question I have about this is: Is Mumsnet a social media site? All definitions welcome. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Now a full-length blogpost. “Safety by design or systems for content moderation?” #OnlineSafetyAct www.cyberleagle.com/2026/02/safe...

TL;DR If 'safety by design' proponents can't decide what it means, how could Parliament be expected to know?

I believe this is the first instance of wrongful arrest involving facial recognition in the Uk

And if it does include automated content detection, what is the point of seeking to distinguish safety by design 'systems and processes' measures from any other kind of measure? They collapse into systems for moderating content.

I love what Williamson wrote about that:

Tech and tech-curious folks, what do you make of this passage? It's from a decision of the immigration tribunal criticising a couple of lawyers for suspected misuse of AI tools. I have thoughts but don't want to prompt.

For fans of parliamentary procedure *and* those nostalgic for the Brexit era, there are a pair of interesting opposition day motions on the Commons order paper today - a humble address (Andrew M-W) & a motion to set aside SO No14 for the day to consider a Bill (online services (age restrictions)

Now a full-length blogpost. “Safety by design or systems for content moderation?” #OnlineSafetyAct www.cyberleagle.com/2026/02/safe...

"European digital regulation does not, in fact, have any extraterritorial reach..." Discuss. www.latribune.fr/article/la-t...

"European digital regulation does not, in fact, have any extraterritorial reach..." Discuss. www.latribune.fr/article/la-t...

On my long list of things that Art 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not say, this one feels quite topical.

Among the most important signs of how SCOTUS might rein in a President's claim to emergency powers is: Chief Justice Roberts with Justices Gorsuch and Barrett on the 'major questions' doctrine. The three express deep skepticism of claims to open-ended emergency powers: 1/

Crumbs, it's real (albeit just a placeholder so far). freedom.gov

Fortunately for Ofcom’s sanity, the drafters of the Online Safety Act did think of it.

Liz Kendall: "MPs have a Finance Bill every year with the budget, I think we need to think about like that with technology because it is changing so fast." We don't delegate the annual Finance Act to executive powers and secondary legislation. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

And when you have a hammer, no matter how badly designed and broken it may be, everything looks like a nail.

On enforcing the DSA: “Brussels will have to choose either to pull the trigger on potential enforcement actions against some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names or admit that, for now, its digital rulebook must run secondary to the bloc’s wider reliance on the US” www.techpolicy.press/the-eus-onli...

And when you have a hammer, no matter how badly designed and broken it may be, everything looks like a nail.

Liz Kendall: "MPs have a Finance Bill every year with the budget, I think we need to think about like that with technology because it is changing so fast." We don't delegate the annual Finance Act to executive powers and secondary legislation. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

On VPNs, I am reminded of Doctorow‘s Warning 14 years ago. www.cyberleagle.com/2014/01/cybe...

While we await hearing whether a mooted GRANITE Act federal blocking statute materialises, everything you need to know about extraterritoriality and the transatlantic free speech wars. #OnlineSafetyAct www.cyberleagle.com/2026/02/extr...

While we await hearing whether a mooted GRANITE Act federal blocking statute materialises, everything you need to know about extraterritoriality and the transatlantic free speech wars. #OnlineSafetyAct www.cyberleagle.com/2026/02/extr...

I regret to inform you (and especially @cyberleagle.bsky.social) that the hackneyed fallacy of “the internet is an unregulated Wild West” is doing the rounds again, today, yes *after* the OSA. news.sky.com/story/beth-r...

New on my blog: Extraterritoriality and the transatlantic free speech wars. www.cyberleagle.com/2026/02/extr...

New on my blog: Extraterritoriality and the transatlantic free speech wars. www.cyberleagle.com/2026/02/extr...

Different from Ofcom e-mailing demands and notices direct, to which 4Chan has taken objection on territorial sovereignty grounds in its US litigation. #OnlineSafetyAct

Interesting insights into how German authorities have sought to serve NetzDG process cross-border. #EnforcementJurisdiction x.com/prestonjbyrn...

Interesting insights into how German authorities have sought to serve NetzDG process cross-border. #EnforcementJurisdiction x.com/prestonjbyrn...

In what possible universe could Article 35 (risk mitigation) be described as a ‘clear’ rule? Even the DSA’s supporters think it should be amended to make it clear. husovec.eu/wp-content/u...

"It's worked fine for 6+ months, then it generated a completely fake discount code and an offer for 25% off, later rising to 80% off as it tried to impress him" lmao

How to taint the cause of upholding freedom of expression.

If you want to read the transcript of the February 3 hearing where Julie Le had her "this job sucks" meltdown, now you can: drive.google.com/file/d/1FnY2...

Plus 'wild west' and 'what is illegal offline must be illegal online'. Every tired old slogan in one go! In any case the DSA doesn't make any online content illegal - or so they keep telling us.

I don't know if it's intentional or not, but amidst the more robust defending by the EU Commission of its rulebook in the face of US criticism, we're seeing the return of the descriptor for US tech uniquely associated with former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton. 'Too big to care'.

“Not a guaranteed win” is an enormous euphemism…

My leader on banning social media, and more broadly the place of science in policymaking www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...

The Wyoming GRANITE Act, now introduced as a Bill. We await seeing whether a trailed federal Bill will be a pure shield, or add teeth to state legislation swords e.g. by amending the US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act - or, indeed, contain a sword of its own. #OnlineSafetyAct #DSA t.co/oXvDXErrfF

The Wyoming GRANITE Act, now introduced as a Bill. We await seeing whether a trailed federal Bill will be a pure shield, or add teeth to state legislation swords e.g. by amending the US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act - or, indeed, contain a sword of its own. #OnlineSafetyAct #DSA t.co/oXvDXErrfF

UK regulator Ofcom and the CSEA watchdog IWF are stepping up formalised cooperation under the UK Online Safety Act. Presumably this will mean Ofcom leveraging IWF's intelligence and data to support CSEA supervision and enforcement actions. www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

The problem with these attempts to regulate prices, especially after agreements have already been entered into, is that they damage the market. Price caps always create shortages. ie we'll get fewer flats.

Alternatively. www.cyberleagle.com/2025/12/repe...

Great to be joined by cross-party Parliamentarians, DSIT Minister Kanishka Narayan and our fabulous civil society partners in Parliament today to launch our 10-point plan to strengthen the #onlinesafetyact - there's much to do but the commitment to working with us to do it was hugely welcome.