For any fellow Mastodon server admins in the UK, I'm aware of the Social Media Platforms (Ofcom Licensing) Act 2026.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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@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!
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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.
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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
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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.
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@fella @GossiTheDog That's just "The House of Lords" which has to approve new legislation as well as the "House of Commons".
Lords Spiritual are Bishops of the Church of England, who are allowed to vote in the House of Lords.
Lords Temporal are people who have been made a Lord by the government (or, in the past, inherited the title).
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@GossiTheDog I wonder if this would criminalize someone setting up a BBS and inviting their friends.
@shadows @GossiTheDog Arguably not if it’s for that group of friends to “communicate privately”.
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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 They'll need to define "social media platform".
Will this law apply to me if I run a web-based old-school Forum?
[and, technically speaking, the entire Internet is available to users in the UK]
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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 yew got a loicins for that, guvnah?
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As long as you are not a "company" then would it even apply?
️@simonzerafa @GossiTheDog It would.
Section 1(1) specifies a "person" which, in legal terms, can be a real person, an incorporated organisation or a certain sort of partnership, there being no difference in the eyes of the law except that only real people can be put in prison and forced to pay their debts.
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@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.
@gsquirrel @GossiTheDog this bill has one in clause 3. it's far too broad. as far as i can tell, it would include single-user fedi instances, IRC, USEnet and email.
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@gsquirrel @GossiTheDog this bill has one in clause 3. it's far too broad. as far as i can tell, it would include single-user fedi instances, IRC, USEnet and email.
@mewsleah @GossiTheDog Ah! Thanks - I hadn't spotted that. It's a super-broad definition, isn't it!
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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 At least in the US requiring a license for speech/pubishing/etc is actually unconstitutional. That means courts would theoretically refuse to convict and sentence people for defying it unless eiher Trump replaces the judges or the First Amendment gets abolished.
Of course if a person charged for ANYTHING isn't a cishet white Christian conservative, all laws and rights may not apply in the current regime here.
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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
'It shall not PASS' [Said in my bestest Gandalf voicing]
Or 'Kill Bill' for the more militant.
Or Raspberry Pi in the face of oppression.
I am already posting from a VPN to hide my location in Tooting, London (oops what a give away)
What complete and utter money wasting lobbying rich fodder for the insecure.
My name is lobster and I disapprove of this lack of initiative. COD save the Kings Head.
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