Category Archives: Internet governance

Children’s groups speak out

Posted on September 9, 2020 by

The EU held a consultation on the upcoming Digital Services Act. It closed yesterday. Here is a link to the document I submitted with the support of one or more children’s groups from 15 Member States. What with the holiday … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Child abuse images, Consent, Default settings, E-commerce, Internet governance, Pornography, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

The EU’s Digital Services Act

Posted on August 26, 2020 by

On 8th September an EU consultation closes. It concerns a proposed new Digital Services Act (DSA). The Act will provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the internet’s ground rules. Children’s advocates need to get busy. Reforming the e-Commerce Directive In … Continue reading →

Posted in Default settings, Internet governance, Regulation, Self-regulation

A child’s legal right to porn? I don’t think so.

Posted on June 18, 2020 by

Pornhub is not an aid, comforter or reliable source of advice, guidance, support or information for children who are anxious or inquisitive about sex, their own sexuality, or relationships. Neither is any other porn site I know about. The fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Internet governance, Pornography, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Problems with the GDPR

Posted on June 7, 2020 by

The EU recently undertook a review of the first two years of the operation of the GDPR. If you missed it you are not alone. The existence of the review was not well publicised. It will report soon but the … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Child abuse images, Consent, Default settings, Internet governance, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

President Trump gets it wrong

Posted on May 29, 2020 by

So it wasn’t an empty threat.  President Trump did it. He signed an Executive Order which, in essence, seeks to change the law on platform immunity, as conferred by s.230, Communications Decency Act 1996. It is doubtful the Executive Order … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

Anonymity and privacy in the time of encryption

Posted on May 20, 2020 by

“What’s in a name?” is a recent publication from Demos (full disclosure: many moons ago I was a founding trustee of Demos but I haven’t had much contact with them of late). The Demos authors did a great job describing … Continue reading →

Posted in Default settings, Internet governance, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized | Tagged

The scandal that keeps on harming kids

Posted on May 15, 2020 by

Behind the reflecting glass windows of a modern office block at 12025 Waterfront Drive, Los Angeles, are the people who have the power to end one of the great scandals of modern technology. The question is: why are they not … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Default settings, Internet governance, Regulation, Self-regulation

A chance to amend the GDPR?

Posted on April 28, 2020 by

The European Union is currently reviewing aspects of the operation of the GDPR. The consultation closes tomorrow so if you want to stick something in you better move fast. Below is a submission I just made on behalf of various … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, ICANN, Internet governance, Regulation, Self-regulation

After the war is over

Posted on April 13, 2020 by

It is impossible for anyone to say with any level of certainty what the post-pandemic world will look like. Some pundits believe everything will be completely different. Rather more seem to be saying nothing much will change or things could … Continue reading →

Posted in Default settings, Facebook, Google, ICANN, Internet governance, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

More progress in the fight against online child sex abuse

Posted on March 13, 2020 by

Last week representatives from the Governments of the “Five Eyes” nations, (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA) gathered in Washington DC. They endorsed a set of eleven voluntary principles to combat a range of online threats to … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Child abuse images, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation