IP Blocking the UK Is Not Enough to Comply with the Online Safety Act
14 days ago
- #First Amendment
- #Internet Censorship
- #Online Safety Act
- The author represents 4chan and other U.S. websites pro bono in a lawsuit against the UK's Ofcom over the Online Safety Act, defending First Amendment rights.
- Ofcom's strategy targets controversial U.S. websites like 4chan, Gab, Kiwi Farms, and Sanctioned Suicide (SaSu) to set censorship precedents.
- SaSu, a mental health forum discussing suicide, was the first target of Ofcom's enforcement actions under the Online Safety Act.
- Despite SaSu implementing a UK IP block, Ofcom reopened an investigation based on false claims the block was ineffective.
- The author argues Ofcom's actions are politically motivated, aiming to justify the Online Safety Act by targeting SaSu.
- Ofcom's enforcement attempts against U.S. websites are seen as overreach, threatening American constitutional rights.
- The author calls for U.S. government intervention, including a foreign censorship shield law, to protect American websites from UK censorship attempts.
- Ofcom's public responses and coordination with pro-censorship NGOs highlight the political nature of its enforcement actions.