For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog Facebook will get ruled as *not* a social media platform while running a Mastodon instance will get you jailtime
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog the way thats worded it looks like itd be "illegal" to let uk citizens sign up on foreign servers too which lol
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog cc: @neil
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
As long as you are not a "company" then would it even apply?
️ -
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog@cyberplace.social ...doesn't that basically mean, that any sort of service that can be used by others requires a license? I mean, mail, file, DNS, etc with internet facing interfaces that can be used with or without account seems to get hit by this??
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog Dear oh dear.
And not particularly the point here, but I like seeing Floella in the House of Lords. -
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog Good spot!
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog Wow, what an extremely silly bill.
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog what are the odds the licensing requirements include a backdoor?
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog I wonder if this would criminalize someone setting up a BBS and inviting their friends.
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog Do we have a legal definition of a 'social media platform' yet? It seems like ministers are keen on passing vague laws, but not on getting into detail.
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog
It's 'merely' requiring admins to obtain a license from Ofcom.
You can hear the politicians touting the reasonableness of the idea.
Yet, we all know, within short order 'age-verification' will be a prerequisite. etc. etc.
Sigh. -
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
So... If I start hosting a forum about, let's say SMD resistors, using 1990's web based free open sourced forum software, I could be arrested at the airport in UK. Got it.
-
@GossiTheDog Do we have a legal definition of a 'social media platform' yet? It seems like ministers are keen on passing vague laws, but not on getting into detail.
There is a definition in a bill that would also cover a public Forgejo server.
Also 'BE IT ENACTED by the King's most Excellent Majesty' do these people actually listen to themselves??
No king but king Ludd!
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog this is terrifying! I can totally see this idea spreading like wildfires now that gating is normalised.
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
-
For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
It would make it basically illegal to run a Mastodon server as a UK citizen.
It's a private member's bill and it's not likely to pass, I'm starting the lobbying against it. It won't pass on my watch. It's a good faith effort to solve a very specific problem but it's too broad.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/67647/documents/8738
@GossiTheDog Does that mean that every enterprise Microsoft customer in the country will need a license? They bundle that Yammer/Viva Engage nonsense with everything.
