Online Safety Act

[Depreston]

A few forums I frequent look like by March 25th 2025 will have to cease to exist as they’re ran by individuals situated in the UK it’s an absolute minefield and not worth the hassle

Is this place ok I suppose it has a bit more structure being ran by GM

Here’s a post with more detail

LFGSS and Microcosm shutting down 16th March 2025 (the day before the Online Safety Act is enforced) | LFGSS

www.lfgss.com

Real shame there’s loads of little communities that are important to people being swallowed up

 

[hambugerpete]

It is interesting what effect it will have , I have seen some comments suggesting that every post on a forum would need moderator approval before being viewable. To be fair there are tools that can do this already and are at least fair in thier judgment ,but do come at a cost. Is the closing down a bit of an overreaction ?

 

[Orikoru]

It is interesting what effect it will have , I have seen some comments suggesting that every post on a forum would need moderator approval before being viewable. To be fair there are tools that can do this already and are at least fair in thier judgment ,but do come at a cost. Is the closing down a bit of an overreaction ?

Was thinking this. Surely it can't be enforceable across every forum that exists? It's just ideal world stuff. This forum also has pretty stringent rules about what language you can use and so on anyway.

 

[cliveb]

What's their definition of a system that allows user-to-user comms?
Do posts in public count, or is it just private one-to-one messages?
If the latter, then one possible solution would be to just switch off the PM facility.

On another note: where did Ofcom get the £18m figure for fines? Seems a strange number to pluck out of the air.
Could it be that this is a European edict with a €20m fine, and the UK is just sheepishly following suit?

 

[hambugerpete]

What's their definition of a system that allows user-to-user comms?
Do posts in public count, or is it just private one-to-one messages?
If the latter, then one possible solution would be to just switch off the PM facility.

On another note: where did Ofcom get the £18m figure for fines? Seems a strange number to pluck out of the air.
Could it be that this is a European edict with a €20m fine, and the UK is just sheepishly following suit?

Well no as we're not part of the EU are we.

 

[hambugerpete]

Was thinking this. Surely it can't be enforceable across every forum that exists? It's just ideal world stuff. This forum also has pretty stringent rules about what language you can use and so on anyway.

Im not sure how it will work in practice. I guess the onus is on the provider to make sure they comply and if found not too then they can get fined etc accordingly.

 

[cliveb]

Well no as we're not part of the EU are we.

Despite leaving the EU, the UK still mirrors a lot of EU regulations.

 

[Crow]

I'd have thought WhatsApp groups and similar encrypted "communities" would have been just as much of a threat as online forums are.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Despite leaving the EU, the UK still mirrors a lot of EU regulations.

We have had notification today about EU deforestation rules coming in next year. We are going to have to show traceability in products to prove the source is sustainable.

Royal pain in the backside, largely just a beauroctatic exercise, but we will have to comply as we wish to export into the EU. Not being in the EU doesn't mean ignoring EU laws. That concept was pie in the sky

(I appreciate that you know that already)

 

[Eesat 90210]

I have seen some comments suggesting that every post on a forum would need moderator approval before being viewable.
To be fair there are tools that can do this already

Yeah but that's a bit of a harsh way to describe the volunteer mods....


And that was a joke before anyone takes it seriously

 

[Depreston]

Was thinking this. Surely it can't be enforceable across every forum that exists? It's just ideal world stuff. This forum also has pretty stringent rules about what language you can use and so on anyway.

This place might be fine tbf

A lot of forums were created by a single person though would you like to be the person on the hook for a potential 18 million fine