A social media ban won't fix online harms.

That's because the business model creating them is left untouched.

It just makes every user do an ID check to prove they’re over 16.

Instead we should tackle the attention capture economy of targeted ads and personalised algorithms.

Sign our petition ⬇️

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/break-big-tech

#socialmediaban #onlinesafety #socialmedia #stopKillingInternet #ukpol #ukpolitics #privacy #censorship #bigtech

"Every failed attempt to make children safer online is followed by more surveillance and censorship.

Children have rights too and these policies will harm their free expression and privacy rights, and push them into less regulated spaces."

🗣️ ORG's James Baker on the under-16s social media ban.

https://www.theregister.com/personal-tech/2026/06/15/britain-plots-digital-bedtime-after-kicking-under-16s-off-social-media/5255341

#socialmediaban #ukpol #onlinesafety #stopKillingInternet #ukpolitics

The fight for the open Internet is on – support our work 🦾

We're facing a social media ban, digital ID checkpoints and powers to scan our devices.

Our privacy and free expression rights could lie in tatters if we don't resist.

Donate now to power our grassroots movement ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/build-our-grassroots-power-defend-open-internet

#StopKillingInternet #grassroots #crowdfunder #socialmediaban #digitalrights #privacy #freeexpression #censorship #digitalid #ukpolitics #ukpol

UK politicians and the government should lead by example.

If they're serious about reducing the influence of harmful social platforms, they should engage with citizens in federated spaces, rather than Musk's rage-fuelled machine.

A healthier Internet is possible, if we only choose to build it.

#belfast #northernireland #musk #x #fediverse #breakbigtech #ukpolitics #ukpol

Federated and decentralised platforms show that another model is possible.

They're not perfect, but they reduce dependence on any single owner, platform, algorithm, or business model of driving hate for profit.

We can't have someone like Musk giving himself a megaphone and deciding what an entire network sees.

#belfast #northernireland #musk #x #fediverse #breakbigtech #ukpolitics #ukpol

The awful scenes in Belfast are a reminder that it matters how information spreads.

We need to build a healthier information environment where no single company, government or billionaire can pervert public debate.

That means tackling the concentrated power of X and Musk's propaganda algorithm.

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/elon-musk-social-media-slammed-34095619

#belfast #northernireland #musk #x #fediverse #breakbigtech #ukpolitics #ukpol

We must change the system so that companies like Palantir don’t get their hands on UK public services.

Hitching our wagon to proprietary systems makes it punitive to change providers and leaves us vulnerable to foreign interference.

If we back open source, everything from the NHS to defence is more secure.

Sign the petition ⬇️

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-trump-s-kill-switch-secure-our-digital-sovereignty

#digitalsovereignty #palantir #nhs #bigtech #tech #ukpolitics #ukpol

MPs want Palantir OUT of the NHS and the UK public sector!

ORG has long warned about our dependency on Big Tech – from vendor lock-in to security risks from foreign-owned companies.

Chi Onwurah MP has echoed our call for Digital Sovereignty to ensure we have control over our critical infrastructure.

Read more ⬇️

https://www.theregister.com/software/2026/06/03/uk-lawmakers-call-on-government-to-ditch-palantir-nhs-contract/5250150

#digitalsovereignty #palantir #nhs #bigtech #tech #ukpolitics #ukpol

1 DAY TO GO ⏰️

💭 Tell the UK government to rethink online safety.

❌️ Creating a privacy timebomb with surveillance-based information blockades isn't the way.

✅️ We need user choice and better platform design, NOT mandatory ID checks.

Have your say on a better way by 26 May ➡️ https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation

#onlinesafety #ageverification #digitalID #privacy #interoperability #bigtech #ukpolitics #ukpol

4 DAYS LEFT ⏰️

There's not much time left to push back on the expansion of online ID checks across yet more of the Internet.

The only way to block young people is to run checks on everyone. The sheer amount of sensitive data that represents is 🤯

Have your say in the UK consultation by 26 May ➡️ https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation

#onlinesafety #privacy #ageverification #digitalID #ukpolitics #ukpol

Palantir should have no place in the UK's digital systems.

The government must completely break our dependency on US tech firms.

It'll deliver better value for money and protect our national security from foreign interference.

Invest in open source, not Trumpian tech bros!

Sign our petition ⬇️

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-trump-s-kill-switch-secure-our-digital-sovereignty

#digitalsovereignty #palantir #opensource #sadiqkhan #metpolice #ukpolitics #ukpol

London Mayor Sadiq Khan shows Palantir the door 🚪

This decision recognises that Big Tech has been grifting the UK for years, by locking us into their exclusive products, jacking up the fees and exporting profits.

The future is open source, NOT shady US spyware companies.

It's time for Digital Sovereignty 🌱

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/21/london-mayor-sadiq-khan-blocks-met-police-deal-with-palantir

#digitalsovereignty #palantir #opensource #sadiqkhan #metpolice #ukpolitics #ukpol

Children deserve to be safe online.

But the sort of mandatory device-scanning software to block nudes, like SafeToNet, that Jess Philips MP (UK) raises in her resignation letter would undermine privacy and security for everyone.

ORG supports measures that empower users and improve safety without mass surveillance.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/darren-jones-keir-starmer-future-labour-leader

#jessphilips #surveillance #privacy #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

UK policymakers need to address the root cause of online harms.

This means tackling the business models of large platforms, which are built on extensive data collection, behavioural targeting and engagement-maximising design.

Read the statement ➡️ https://www.openrightsgroup.org/app/uploads/2026/05/UK-joint-statement-against-age-gates.pdf

#onlinesafety #ageverification #privacy #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

UK Ministers are looking at curfews for young users and sweeping restrictions on access to Internet services – from video games and VPNs to static sites.

The expansion of age verification risks turning the web into “a patchwork of age-gated jurisdictions” rather than a globally accessible resource.

#onlinesafety #ageverification #privacy #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

UK policymakers need to rethink online safety laws.

A new joint statement warns that age-gating and access restrictions threaten to fragment the open Internet and erode the rights of all users.

Read more about the statement from 19 organisations including ORG, Mozilla and @torproject ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/companies-and-civil-society-warn-that-uk-is-undermining-open-web/

#onlinesafety #ageverification #privacy #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

There needs to be an urgent rethink on digital ID age checks.

Unregulated providers sitting on a pot of highly sensitive data. What could go wrong?

Breaches have already happened, T&Cs allow them to use it for advertising purposes and behind-the-scenes links to surveillance companies.

Read more ⬇️

https://www.theregister.com/2026/04/23/proton_ceo_age_checks_id_checkpoint/

#ageverification #privacy #dataprotection #ukpolitics #ukpol

“For too long, Big Tech corporations have embedded themselves in our public services, locked us into contracts that serve their shareholders not citizens, and even shaped government policy.

The result is government contracts being handed out to companies like Palantir, who should have no place in delivering UK public services."

Clive Lewis MP on the need for #DigitalSovereignty and #OpenSource as detailed in our report.

Sign our petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-trump-s-kill-switch-secure-our-digital-sovereignty

#palantir #ukpolitics #ukpol

"For years, a handful of Big Tech companies have used their power to gain control of the UK’s digital infrastructure, locking the government into wasteful contracts and shaping tech policy in their favour."

🗣️ ORG's @jim on our new report calling for UK Digital Sovereignty.

Find out more ⬇️

https://www.itpro.com/infrastructure/uk-too-reliant-on-big-tech-needs-prioritise-digital-sovereignty-say-rights-organizers

#DigitalSovereignty #opensource #bigtech #tech #ukpolitics #ukpol

Digital Sovereignty is the ability to have control over our digital infrastructure, data and technology.

That's means giving companies like Palantir the boot and investing in open source systems.

It'll make us more competitive and innovative, reduce costs and enhance security.

Read more ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/new-report-uk-needs-digital-sovereignty-strategy-to-address-threats-from-reliance-on-big-tech/

#DigitalSovereignty #opensource #palantir #nhs #ukpolitics #ukpol