Ofcom have stated unequivocally that geo-blocking the UK[...]
will put a site outside the scope of the Act.
Sorry, but I've now decided I need to block access to Newsgrouper from the >UK, starting 16th March. This is because I find it impractical to meet the >requirements of the UK's Online Safety Act, which comes into effect then.
See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety and https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk >I've done a fair bit more homework on this, reading some of the guidance,
but not all the thousands of pages that Ofcom has produced, and following >their online seminars. Unfortunately very many aspects remain vague, and >requests to Ofcom to provide clearer guidelines get answers like "It depends >on your circumstances", "We can't advise individual sites", "You have to
make the judgement", etc..
I'm afraid my conclusion is that trying to comply with the OSA is just too >much effort. It's not just the initial risk assessments and policy/system >changes. It's also that one is then required to respond to any reports that >come in and judge whether that content is really illegal. You are required
to remove anything that *is* illegal under a long list of categories, but >also to protect users' right to freedom of speech. It's easy to think of >cases where this balance could be very tricky. I simply don't want to get >into the business of having to police other people's speech.
Ofcom have stated unequivocally that geo-blocking the UK will put a site >outside the scope of the Act. So I put up a simple survey on the newsgrouper >site, this appeared for UK users only, and I let it run for two weeks.
There was just one question and a space for comments. I got 11 responses,
as follows:
How would a UK block affect you? Answers
1: Not Concerned, I can follow Usenet by other means. 1
2: An Annoyance, but not the end of the world. 5
3: Oh No, that would be a disaster! 5
The comments were generally disappointed, but some also expressed >understanding. So blocking UK access would be a real inconvenience to
5 people. I regret that, but they may be able to use one of the other web >interfaces to Usenet, see: >https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web-based_Usenet#Web-based_sites_and_popularity >Also UK people are only about 15% of my users now.
I have seen comments that having a .uk address is enough to bring a site
into the scope of the act. I'm not convinced about that, but to be on the >safe side I have reregistered my site as newsgrouper.org with a redirect
from newsgrouper.org.uk .
My software is available at: >https://chiselapp.com/user/cmacleod/repository/newsgrouper/home
so if anyone else wants to take on the job of running an instance that would >remain open to UK users, they are welcome to do so.
Colin Macleod <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
[...]
Ofcom have stated unequivocally that geo-blocking the UK[...]
will put a site outside the scope of the Act.
Writing as a disinterested observer:
could the use of a non-UK VPN node circumvent such a block?
snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) posted:
Colin Macleod <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
[...]
Ofcom have stated unequivocally that geo-blocking the UK[...]
will put a site outside the scope of the Act.
Writing as a disinterested observer:
could the use of a non-UK VPN node circumvent such a block?
I refer the honourable member to my previous answer.
Sorry, but I've now decided I need to block access to Newsgrouper from the UK, starting 16th March. This is because I find it impractical to meet the requirements of the UK's Online Safety Act, which comes into effect then.
See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety and https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk
I've done a fair bit more homework on this, reading some of the guidance,
but not all the thousands of pages that Ofcom has produced, and following their online seminars. Unfortunately very many aspects remain vague, and requests to Ofcom to provide clearer guidelines get answers like "It depends on your circumstances", "We can't advise individual sites", "You have to
make the judgement", etc..
I'm afraid my conclusion is that trying to comply with the OSA is just too much effort. It's not just the initial risk assessments and policy/system changes. It's also that one is then required to respond to any reports that come in and judge whether that content is really illegal. You are required
to remove anything that *is* illegal under a long list of categories, but also to protect users' right to freedom of speech. It's easy to think of cases where this balance could be very tricky. I simply don't want to get into the business of having to police other people's speech.
Ofcom have stated unequivocally that geo-blocking the UK will put a site outside the scope of the Act. So I put up a simple survey on the newsgrouper site, this appeared for UK users only, and I let it run for two weeks.
There was just one question and a space for comments. I got 11 responses,
as follows:
How would a UK block affect you? Answers
1: Not Concerned, I can follow Usenet by other means. 1
2: An Annoyance, but not the end of the world. 5
3: Oh No, that would be a disaster! 5
The comments were generally disappointed, but some also expressed understanding. So blocking UK access would be a real inconvenience to
5 people. I regret that, but they may be able to use one of the other web interfaces to Usenet, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web-based_Usenet#Web-based_sites_and_popularity Also UK people are only about 15% of my users now.
I have seen comments that having a .uk address is enough to bring a site
into the scope of the act. I'm not convinced about that, but to be on the safe side I have reregistered my site as newsgrouper.org with a redirect
from newsgrouper.org.uk .
My software is available at: https://chiselapp.com/user/cmacleod/repository/newsgrouper/home
so if anyone else wants to take on the job of running an instance that would remain open to UK users, they are welcome to do so.
Can't you host on a non 8 eyes country? and have the few in the uk
using it use tor/vpn? you could also give http access on tor/i2p
:shrugs:
On 2025-02-14, Colin Macleod <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
Sorry, but I've now decided I need to block access to Newsgrouper from the >> UK, starting 16th March. This is because I find it impractical to meet the >> requirements of the UK's Online Safety Act, which comes into effect then.
See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety and https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk >>
I've done a fair bit more homework on this, reading some of the guidance,
but not all the thousands of pages that Ofcom has produced, and following
their online seminars. Unfortunately very many aspects remain vague, and
requests to Ofcom to provide clearer guidelines get answers like "It depends >> on your circumstances", "We can't advise individual sites", "You have to
make the judgement", etc..
I'm afraid my conclusion is that trying to comply with the OSA is just too >> much effort. It's not just the initial risk assessments and policy/system >> changes. It's also that one is then required to respond to any reports that >> come in and judge whether that content is really illegal. You are required >> to remove anything that *is* illegal under a long list of categories, but
also to protect users' right to freedom of speech. It's easy to think of
cases where this balance could be very tricky. I simply don't want to get
into the business of having to police other people's speech.
Ofcom have stated unequivocally that geo-blocking the UK will put a site
outside the scope of the Act. So I put up a simple survey on the newsgrouper >> site, this appeared for UK users only, and I let it run for two weeks.
There was just one question and a space for comments. I got 11 responses,
as follows:
How would a UK block affect you? Answers
1: Not Concerned, I can follow Usenet by other means. 1
2: An Annoyance, but not the end of the world. 5
3: Oh No, that would be a disaster! 5
The comments were generally disappointed, but some also expressed
understanding. So blocking UK access would be a real inconvenience to
5 people. I regret that, but they may be able to use one of the other web
interfaces to Usenet, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web-based_Usenet#Web-based_sites_and_popularity
Also UK people are only about 15% of my users now.
I have seen comments that having a .uk address is enough to bring a site
into the scope of the act. I'm not convinced about that, but to be on the
safe side I have reregistered my site as newsgrouper.org with a redirect
from newsgrouper.org.uk .
My software is available at:
https://chiselapp.com/user/cmacleod/repository/newsgrouper/home
so if anyone else wants to take on the job of running an instance that would >> remain open to UK users, they are welcome to do so.
Can't you host on a non 8 eyes country? and have the few in the uk
using it use tor/vpn? you could also give http access on tor/i2p
:shrugs:
Colin Macleod <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) posted:
Colin Macleod <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
[...]
Ofcom have stated unequivocally that geo-blocking the UK[...]
will put a site outside the scope of the Act.
Writing as a disinterested observer:
could the use of a non-UK VPN node circumvent such a block?
I refer the honourable member to my previous answer.
Hmm. I don't see a plain answer to my particular question but
(at risk of error) I can infer one. Whatever, it isn't my problem;
good luck with your project.
Providing guidance on how unscrupulous persons might subvert a legal >restriction would be most unethical. I should certainly never encourage
any such behaviour.
Providing guidance on how unscrupulous persons might subvert a legal restriction would be most unethical. I should certainly never encourage
any such behaviour.
snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) posted:
Colin Macleod <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) posted:
Colin Macleod <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
[...]
Ofcom have stated unequivocally that geo-blocking the UK[...]
will put a site outside the scope of the Act.
Writing as a disinterested observer:
could the use of a non-UK VPN node circumvent such a block?
I refer the honourable member to my previous answer.
Hmm. I don't see a plain answer to my particular question but
(at risk of error) I can infer one. Whatever, it isn't my problem;
good luck with your project.
Providing guidance on how unscrupulous persons might subvert a legal restriction would be most unethical. I should certainly never
encourage any such behaviour.
On Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:17:38 -0000 (UTC), rek2 hispagatos wrote:
Can't you host on a non 8 eyes country? and have the few in the uk
using it use tor/vpn? you could also give http access on tor/i2p
:shrugs:
It's Nine Eyes, isn't it?
On 2025-02-14, s|b <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
On Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:17:38 -0000 (UTC), rek2 hispagatos wrote:
Can't you host on a non 8 eyes country? and have the few in the uk
using it use tor/vpn? you could also give http access on tor/i2p
:shrugs:
It's Nine Eyes, isn't it?
Indeed seems like unfortunately the "eyes" keeps growing :)
rek2 hispagatos <rek2@hispagatos.meow.org.invalid> posted:
On 2025-02-14, s|b <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
On Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:17:38 -0000 (UTC), rek2 hispagatos wrote:
Can't you host on a non 8 eyes country? and have the few in the uk
using it use tor/vpn? you could also give http access on tor/i2p
:shrugs:
It's Nine Eyes, isn't it?
Indeed seems like unfortunately the "eyes" keeps growing :)
The new UK law doesn't care where the service is hosted, only whether
it's available to UK users. Also users who are sophisticated enough
to use tor or a vpn would most likely be using their own nntp client
and so would not need my web interface at all.
If it's just to whom the service is offered, then all other News servers/services would also be bound by this new UK law, i.e.
for example News.Individual.NET in Germany, Eternal September in
<wherever>, etc..
rek2 hispagatos <rek2@hispagatos.meow.org.invalid> posted:
On 2025-02-14, s|b <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
On Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:17:38 -0000 (UTC), rek2 hispagatos wrote:Indeed seems like unfortunately the "eyes" keeps growing :)
Can't you host on a non 8 eyes country? and have the few in the uk
using it use tor/vpn? you could also give http access on tor/i2p
:shrugs:
It's Nine Eyes, isn't it?
The new UK law doesn't care where the service is hosted, only whether
it's available to UK users. Also users who are sophisticated enough
to use tor or a vpn would most likely be using their own nntp client
and so would not need my web interface at all.
On Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:14:23 GMT, Colin Macleod <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
Sorry, but I've now decided I need to block access to Newsgrouper from the >>UK, starting 16th March. This is because I find it impractical to meet the >>requirements of the UK's Online Safety Act, which comes into effect then. >>See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety and https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk >>I've done a fair bit more homework on this, reading some of the guidance, >>but not all the thousands of pages that Ofcom has produced, and following >>their online seminars. Unfortunately very many aspects remain vague, and >>requests to Ofcom to provide clearer guidelines get answers like "It depends >>on your circumstances", "We can't advise individual sites", "You have to >>make the judgement", etc..
I'm afraid my conclusion is that trying to comply with the OSA is just too >>much effort. It's not just the initial risk assessments and policy/system >>changes. It's also that one is then required to respond to any reports that >>come in and judge whether that content is really illegal. You are required >>to remove anything that *is* illegal under a long list of categories, but >>also to protect users' right to freedom of speech. It's easy to think of >>cases where this balance could be very tricky. I simply don't want to get >>into the business of having to police other people's speech.
Ofcom have stated unequivocally that geo-blocking the UK will put a site >>outside the scope of the Act. So I put up a simple survey on the newsgrouper >>site, this appeared for UK users only, and I let it run for two weeks. >>There was just one question and a space for comments. I got 11 responses, >>as follows:
How would a UK block affect you? Answers
1: Not Concerned, I can follow Usenet by other means. 1
2: An Annoyance, but not the end of the world. 5
3: Oh No, that would be a disaster! 5
The comments were generally disappointed, but some also expressed >>understanding. So blocking UK access would be a real inconvenience to
5 people. I regret that, but they may be able to use one of the other web >>interfaces to Usenet, see: >>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web-based_Usenet#Web-based_sites_and_popularity >>Also UK people are only about 15% of my users now.
I have seen comments that having a .uk address is enough to bring a site >>into the scope of the act. I'm not convinced about that, but to be on the >>safe side I have reregistered my site as newsgrouper.org with a redirect >>from newsgrouper.org.uk .
My software is available at: >>https://chiselapp.com/user/cmacleod/repository/newsgrouper/home
so if anyone else wants to take on the job of running an instance that would >>remain open to UK users, they are welcome to do so.
the kingdom has for centuries proven to be international trend-setter
for what is inevitable... dharma, caste system, divine right of kings, manifest destiny, master race, rome, white eyes, e pluribus unum, etc.
the user's network is the last bastion of unmoderated/uncensored free
speech in a virtual public forum, the loss of which could be imminent,
so whatever anyone outside the system might have to say they'd better
say it while they can, this vast empire is at her most high & sublime
On 2025-02-14, D <noreply@mixmin.net> wrote:
On Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:14:23 GMT, Colin Macleod <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
Sorry, but I've now decided I need to block access to Newsgrouper from the >>>UK, starting 16th March. This is because I find it impractical to meet the >>>requirements of the UK's Online Safety Act, which comes into effect then. snip
the kingdom has for centuries proven to be international trend-setter
for what is inevitable... dharma, caste system, divine right of kings,
manifest destiny, master race, rome, white eyes, e pluribus unum, etc.
the user's network is the last bastion of unmoderated/uncensored free
speech in a virtual public forum, the loss of which could be imminent,
so whatever anyone outside the system might have to say they'd better
say it while they can, this vast empire is at her most high & sublime
Buddhism should have ended the Hinduist caste system/dharma long ago. >Degradings human by birth and not for what they *do* it's one of
the things both Evangelism, Nazism and Hinduism have it common
among Juche, and all of them are uterly doomed because
they are against any accountability.
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