2025-10-29 17:51:55
It looks like somebody basically phoned them up and fed them a fake story which nobody properly checked. Clearly this is a cyberattack on critical national infrastructure, possibly involving AI, rather than a journalist fuckup.
2025-10-28 12:41:28
…Among its requirements are broad directives that “encrypted services, anonymous accounts, generative artificial intelligence (AI) and recommender systems can be used safely,” and that “harmful material and activity is minimized.” … While framed as promoting safety, these rules give the Commissioner wide discretion to define what counts as acceptable online behavior.
https://reclaimthenet.org/australia-online-speech-crackdown-esafety-age-verification-push
2025-10-28 12:29:43
I’ve previously written about this at considerable length, so I will limit myself to quoting Preston Byrne re: domestic rights, and noting that sites which have engaged in UK-directed self-censorship* are now centred in complaints to government that VPNs enable circumvention.
Appeasement makes it worse for us:
[*] The Molly Rose Foundation are literally attempting to block the ability to utter certain words on the global Internet, and they see Ofcom as the tool for this:
https://mollyrosefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/MissedChancesLostLives.pdf
Earlier this month, Ofcom signalled that it appeared to be relying on the site voluntarily geo-blocking its site to UK users – in effect, signalling it will not take further enforcement action despite the forum still being readily available via a VPN.
Ofcom’s failure to respond appropriately to a forum that continues to represent an immediate and ongoing threat to life is, to put it bluntly, staggering. Many will legitimately fear that the forum’s decision to voluntarily geo-block itself is a short-term tactic designed to diminish Ofcom’s appetite to seek a permanent remedy through the UK courts.
Ofcom’s approach appears to be playing directly into the hands of this nihilistic forum – and it means that further UK lives remain at risk.
Even if the regulator did take steps that eventually led to the forum’s closure, the current legislative framework means that if and when the forum was no longer available, we cannot have confidence that ‘regulatory whack-a-mole’ will simply enable another replica site to emerge and take its place.
2025-10-28 12:03:22
Of course it was doomed to failure. Alas.
2025-10-28 12:00:10
It’s a good read, but some of what is listed as “admirable regulation” are not necessarily so — but having that complex conversation is not possible in the current environment. But perhaps that’s what Ben’s getting at?
European values may be admirable but what matters is how they’re implemented. Principle without pragmatism paralyses. In trying to shield society from harm, Europe too often ends up shielding itself from progress.
…
There is a moral philosophy underlying Europe’s economic posture, a kind of deontological discipline that puts what should be done over what works. Privacy is sacred, big companies are suspicious, and consumer protection is gospel. These are not bad instincts. Indeed, in an age of data abuse and corporate overreach, they are often admirable. But good instincts aren’t enough – what matters is how they’re implemented. Principle without pragmatism paralyses. In trying to shield society from harm, Europe too often ends up shielding itself from progress.
Take the GDPR. It was an earnest and important attempt to protect citizens’ data – but also a compliance nightmare that ossified digital innovation. Or the AI Act – an ambitious attempt to make AI safe, ethical, and transparent. Laudable in theory, but in practice it risks choking startups with bureaucracy before they ever write a line of code. The EU will soon have 27 AI regulatory authorities but few leading AI companies.
Maybe it’s not the implementation, maybe it’s the concept of regulating it?
https://www.euractiv.com/opinion/europe-doesnt-lack-talent-it-lacks-boldness/
via:
2025-10-28 11:50:58
In case you missed it, new PSUK dropped on Thursday. Head over to our channel to catch Wikipedia founder @jimmy_wales digging into trust, culture wars and AI.
Link: https://megaphone.link/CROOKEDMEDIAINC3408432575