Small UK websites, user-to-user services, and even computer games that are completely safe and well managed, are faced with difficult paperwork, risk assessments, registration, and fines thanks to the UK's Online Safety Act - Write to your MP: https://action.openrightsgroup.org/save-our-sites-write-your-mp #UKPolitics #UKAgeVerification #BigBrother #OnlinePrivacy #UKPol #OnlineSafetyAct

For anyone about to be caught out by the UK's new internet age verification law that requires you to provide your ID to a third-party American company here's a Refer a Friend link for NordVPN https://refer-nordvpn.com/pAKrRqprtqV You’ll get 3 extra months if you choose the 1- or 2-year plans, or 1 free month if you opt for the monthly plan #NordVPN #VPN #UKPolitics #UKAgeVerification #BigBrother #OnlinePrivacy

I'm often genuinely scared because I constantly hear people willingly sharing all their details with OpenAI and Meta. I just saw a long post where someone was thankful to ChatGPT for being their therapist. Why do so many think their private details are safe and even worse - that they can somehow control AI and algorithms, believing they're here to serve us and not the other way around? We're in deep trouble.

If you enable tighter security for your online activty and it "breaks" the functionality of a website or online service---

Think very hard about how much you really need to access that website or service.

#OnlineSecurity #OnlinePrivacy
#InternetPrivacy #InternetSecurity

Coming Q3 2025: #NextcloudWorkspace: your alternative to #Microsoft365 for full #DigitalSovereignty, built in partnership with @IONOS.

#OnlinePrivacy, compliance, and usability, without losing control of your data.

Discover more: https://nextcloud.com/blog/nextcloud-workspace-microsoft-365-alternative-by-nextcloud-and-ionos/

A cybersecurity issue left phone numbers linked to Google accounts completely vulnerable, according to a researcher. It would take an hour to obtain a U.S. number, eight minutes for a U.K. one and less than a minute for some other countries.

"Phone numbers are a goldmine for SIM swappers. A researcher found how to get this precious piece of information from any Google account," writes @josephcox for @404media.

https://flip.it/zBdlAw

Nowadays, the concept of privacy is really distorted. It's strange if you're not online. It's strange if you don't use WhatsApp. It's strange if you're not on Facebook. It's strange if your instant messenger's privacy settings are set up properly and other participant doesn't see your read receipt.

Soon it will be strange if you don't hand over your data to artificial intelligence.

Damn modern times.

Canadian VPN Windscribe scores a major victory for online privacy protections.

These guys are doing great work and definitely deserve our support. If you want to pitch in consider buying some swag from their store: https://swag.windscribe.com/collections/all-products

https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-services/case-dismissed-windscribe-wins-landmark-no-log-vpn-lawsuit-in-greece?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Hobby-hacking to find cheats for games and share them for a price is a lucrative business, offering players an unfair advantage. The director and head of anti-cheat at Riot Games talks to @TechCrunch about the key strategies the company employs to fight cheaters and cheat developers, from using Vanguard at the kernel level to infiltrating cheat communities.

https://flip.it/k3o08V

Found a nice aggregated list of non-US services to switch to.

https://github.com/anitwek/alternatives-to-us

Misconception: Incognito mode keeps you anonymous online. Truth: It only hides your browsing from others on your device, not trackers or ISPs.

U.S. immigration is asking the public for feedback on a new proposal to collect social media handles from people applying for green cards and citizenship.

Free speech advocates are concerned over how expanded social media surveillance could impact asylum seekers, green card and citizenship applicants already living in the U.S. legally.

@AssociatedPress explains what the proposal means and how it might change online surveillance.

https://flip.it/lezXKM

Best alternative to Google Maps?

I'm working to get Google out of my life and data, and that map app is the next step, once I finally shake gmail loose.

The U.K. data watchdog, The Information Commissioner's Office, is launching an investigation into TikTok's use of children's personal information to recommend content to them.

@BBCNews reports:
https://flip.it/7h3jjq

Despite some 60 countries signing a statement on AI safety, security and ethics at the Paris AI summit last week, experts are still calling it a "missed opportunity." @euronews explains why.

https://flip.it/kuzuqQ

State laws are working to protect teens on #socialmedia with measures like parental consent and ad restrictions. Federal action is still uncertain, with the Trump administration's stance unclear. https://theconversation.com/teens-on-social-media-red-blue-and-purple-states-are-all-passing-laws-to-restrict-and-protect-adolescents-245916 #onlineprivacy #mentalhealth

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is one of the best tools you can use to protect your online privacy. Make sure you use it as much as possible in your digital life.

https://theprivacycloud.substack.com/p/why-end-to-end-encryption-is-the

https://legiscope.com/blog/hidden-productivity-drain-cookie-banners.html

via https://lain.com/notice/Ao29iJ6NQ3vzCxok3k