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UK Government Plans New Legislation to Tame Internet's 'Wild West'

posted by chromas on Friday May 25 2018, @04:44AM   
from the consequences-will-never-be-the-same dept.

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard

New laws will be introduced to tackle the internet's "wild west" that will make Britain the "safest place in the world" to be online, the culture secretary has said.

Social media companies have already taken some positive steps to protect users, but the performance of the industry overall has been mixed, according to Matt Hancock.

The government outlined proposals last year to impose an industry-wide levy on social media firms like Facebook and Twitter to fund measures to tackle online harm. It is understood the move will be subject to a further round of consultation with the sector and charities before any decision is made on pushing ahead.

A new code of practice to tackle bullying, intimidating or humiliating online content and a regular internet safety transparency report to keep tabs on online abuse could be included in new legislation.

Right, show of hands, who thinks we should move our servers to the UK and stop saying mean things to each other?

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/may/19/uk-government-plans-new-laws-tackle-internet-wild-west

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Original Submission

• What are they going to do? What are they going to do? (Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 25 2018, @05:25AM (4 children)

  by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 25 2018, @05:25AM (#683899)

  Tackle the Wild West? So what are they going to do?

  * Stop the Nigerian Scammers?

  * Stop the Penis Enlargement Spammers?

  * Put an end to IoT botnets?

  * Patch millions of Windows XP machines connected directly to the net?

  * Prevent Facebook and its ilk from being the biggest snitch the world has ever seen?

  * Force my bank to allow a better Online PIN than no-more-than-four-digits?

  * Enforce Net Neutrality?

  Oh ... they're going to publish a polity worded statement of "Don't be an asshole on the internet". And they'll be reporting yearly that people are still assholes on the internet.

  Yeah GB, you just go right on with being an effective and useful government. See you when you're done.

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• It's right in the summary: Steal money, as usual. (Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 25 2018, @06:14AM

  by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 25 2018, @06:14AM (#683909)

  impose an industry-wide levy

  Imposition. Violently. Using their Monopoly powers.

  Parent

• It's right in the summary: Steal money, as usual. (Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 25 2018, @07:17AM

  by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 25 2018, @07:17AM (#683919)

  impose an industry-wide levy

  Imposition. Violently. Using their Monopoly powers.

  Parent

• Re:What are they going to do? (Score: 2) by unauthorized on Friday May 25 2018, @08:24AM

  by unauthorized (3776) on Friday May 25 2018, @08:24AM (#683927)

  Mandatory walled gardens for everyone. Didn't you know that only terrorists like Julian Assange use Linux? There is no need to fear the government if you have nothing to hide, Winston!

  Parent

• It's right in the summary: Steal money, as usual. (Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 25 2018, @05:36PM

  by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 25 2018, @05:36PM (#684093)

  impose an industry-wide levy

  Imposition. Violently. Using their Monopoly powers.

  Parent