Category Archives: Uncategorized

What can aeroplanes teach us?

Posted on April 11, 2021 by John Carr

The other day I was talking to the CEO of a tech company, expressing my frustration at the way scaremongering misinformation seems to have taken hold in relation to the way various child protection tools operate online. We are talking … Continue reading →

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Trends and Facebook on manoeuvres

Posted on March 1, 2021 by John Carr

Last Wednesday the USA’s National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) published its numbers for 2020. 16.9 million reports received in 2019  grew to 21.7 million in 2020. That’s up over 25%. Messaging platforms remain the largest source. 21.4 … Continue reading →

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The shame continues

Posted on February 8, 2021 by John Carr

Last Thursday afternoon the LIBE Committee of the European Parliament met. The proceedings are viewable. The meeting was scheduled to take two hours.  It had several items to discuss. The earlier ones overran. When the question of the derogation and … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Consent, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Microsoft, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Privacy warriors arrive late

Posted on November 20, 2020 by John Carr

Governments and legislators stood by and watched for years while the internet exploded, bringing in its wake huge benefits but also several downsides, particularly for children. “Permissionless Innovation” was the watchword. We even created special legal immunities to help things … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Default settings, Internet governance, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Don’t be a child in Europe

Posted on November 12, 2020 by John Carr

Yesterday the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) published an opinion on the European Commission’s proposal for a temporary suspension of parts of the e-Privacy Directive of 2002. It is a weak Opinion, riddled with error. The good points the EDPS … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

I am not going to say “I told you so”

Posted on October 24, 2020 by John Carr

I generally find it extremely irritating when people turn to me and, usually with a smug look, say “I told you so,” so that won’t happen here. With little additional comment I will merely draw your attention to a report … Continue reading →

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In Parliament

Posted on October 9, 2020 by John Carr

On Wednesday in a “Westminster Hall “debate MPs discussed the seemingly ever-upcoming Online Harms Bill. The fact that this debate happened at all was down to the energetic engagement of Holly Lynch the Member of Parliament for Halifax, West Yorkshire. … Continue reading →

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Beware the harmful algorithm

Posted on August 16, 2020 by John Carr

These past few days British media outlets have been full of stories about the scandalous way 17 and 18 year olds have been dealt with following the cancellation of ‘A’ Level exams because of the virus.  At the root of … Continue reading →

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The EU’s strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse

Posted on July 26, 2020 by John Carr

I said in an earlier blog I would write more fully about the announcement last week of the European Commission’ s new strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse. I wrote that when I had only skimmed … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

UK Government in court over age verification

Posted on July 15, 2020 by John Carr

The Government is in court tomorrow over its failure to implement age verification for pornography sites. Fingers crossed.

Posted in Age verification, Pornography, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment