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Open Rights Group

@openrightsgroup.org
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We fight for digital rights. Join us. www.openrightsgroup.org/join

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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 5h
Body cams change people's "ability to feel at ease in public life". ORG's @sarahlasoye.bsky.social told the BBC that there are "lots of different parts of our private life that now are subject to intrusion." We can't drift into a situation of roaming mass surveillance from high street to car park.
bbc.co.uk
Hull parking wardens hope body cams will end abuse and harassment
Enforcement officers in Hull say abuse and inappropriate behaviour has become their "normal".
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 29/09/2026
Live facial recognition. A waste of time. Waste of money. And, crucially, lays waste to our rights. For the supposed golden goose of digital policing to spit out one (false positive) match is an indictment of this invasive tech. Tech and surveillance aren't the solution to complex social problems.
theguardian.com
Trial of live facial recognition in London stations ends with a false positive and no arrests
Freedom of information request finds six-month trial cost £320,000, used almost 100 police hours and led to just one – incorrect – alert
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 29/09/2026
Hey Bristol, the #SafetyNotSurveillance townhall event is coming up THIS WEEK. Join us as we delve into the so-called 'crime-predicting' tech and AI being used by Avon & Somerset Police. 🗓️ 1 October 🕧 6-9pm 📍 The Pickle Factory Register now ⬇️ @bristolcopwatch.bsky.social @libertyhq.bsky.social
openrightsgroup.org
Safety Not Surveillance Bristol Townhall
Join the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition in Bristol as we explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are currently being used by Avon and Somerset Police, the harms and risks of their continu...
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 28/09/2026
COMING UP: @doctorow.pluralistic.net will be at the @greenparty.org.uk Conference Fringe this year. Join us for this special event exploring 'Digital Sovereignty and the Post-American Internet: What the Greens can do to escape Big Tech'. 🗓️ Sat 3 October 🕠️ 5.45-6.45pm 📍 Brighton Find out more ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
Digital Sovereignty and the Post-American Internet
What the Greens can do to escape Big Tech Trump has given every country the means, motive and opportunity to build a new, good Internet, free from the geopolitical imperatives America foisted on the…
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 25/09/2026
We’ve been put on a watchlist 🚨 “It is deeply concerning to see the Prevent duty being used to enable the monitoring of people and organisations simply because they are critical of the programme.” It raises serious questions about the right to dissent and protest. 💬 ORG’s @sarahlasoye.bsky.social
metro.co.uk
The government is keeping a list of people who question their policies
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 24/09/2026
TONIGHT 🔔 Come along to the Manchester townhall event, starting at 6pm. Food and refreshments provided 😋 Sign up now ⬇️
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 23/09/2026
Reports of Discord being blocked by some ISPs in the Philippines are concerning. Protecting children should mean targeted, proportionate measure not disrupting lawful communication. #Discord #StopKillingtheInternet unbox.ph/news/globe-g...
unbox.ph
Globe, GOMO, DITO has blocked Discord
After the CICC threatened Discord and Reddit to set up a presence in the Philippines in 24 hours or else face consequences, accessing Discord has become dodgy. We can confirm that Discord is blocked…
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Reposted by Open Rights Group
Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 22/09/2026
THIS THURSDAY ⏰ The #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition is coming to Manchester for the next townhall event. Find out about how GMP is using AI and live facial recognition, such as recently at Manchester Carnival. 🗓️ 24 Sep 🕧 6-9pm 📍 Central Hall Sign up ⬇️ www.openrightsgroup.org/events/safet...
openrightsgroup.org
Safety Not Surveillance Manchester Townhall
Join the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition in Manchester as we explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are currently being used by Greater Manchester Police, the harms and risks of their con...
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 22/09/2026
THIS THURSDAY ⏰ The #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition is coming to Manchester for the next townhall event. Find out about how GMP is using AI and live facial recognition, such as recently at Manchester Carnival. 🗓️ 24 Sep 🕧 6-9pm 📍 Central Hall Sign up ⬇️ www.openrightsgroup.org/events/safet...
openrightsgroup.org
Safety Not Surveillance Manchester Townhall
Join the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition in Manchester as we explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are currently being used by Greater Manchester Police, the harms and risks of their con...
01014
Reposted by Open Rights Group
Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 15/09/2026
New opportunity to work with ORG 🚀 We're looking for an independent consultant or small consultancy to produce a report for organisations to reduce their dependence on large technology infrastructure providers and towards a collaborative open source model. Closing date: 30 September. Apply now ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
Consultant Opportunity
Public-Sector Technology Exit and Collaborative Open Source Open Rights Group (ORG) is seeking an independent consultant or small consultancy to help produce an accessible report for UK government dep...
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 17/09/2026
TONIGHT – Come along to our townhall event in London! The #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition is bringing the community together to delve into how the Met is using harmful AI and 'crime prediction' tech. Refreshments and food provided 😋 🕕 6-9pm 📍The Liberation Centre, Brixton Register your place ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
Safety Not Surveillance London Townhall
Join the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition in London as we explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are currently being used by the Met, the harms and risks of their continues roll out, and w...
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Reposted by Open Rights Group
Liberty @libertyhq.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Today is the first hearing of our legal challenge against the UK Government’s attempts to break encryption We’re at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal alongside @privacyinternational.org and Apple to find out how our cases will be managed
Liberty's experts meet outside of court before today's Investigatory Powers Tribunal hearing
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 17/09/2026
The EU Kids Act changes the "open nature of the internet and makes it a permission-based system where you are required to pass through an identity checkpoint to access information. Imposing the same complex compliance requirements on [small] services risks pushing them out." ORG's James Baker.
computerweekly.com
Tech companies under fire as Europe proposes social media ban for under-15s | Computer Weekly
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says technology platforms will have to prove they are safe before children can access them.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 16/09/2026
TOMORROW ⏰ Join us in London for the first community townhall event from the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition. Hear about how the Met police are using AI and 'crime-predicting' tech. And get involved. 🗓️ 17 September 🕕 6-9pm 📍The Liberation Centre Sign up ➡️ www.openrightsgroup.org/events/safet...
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 16/09/2026
We don’t need ID checkpoints to make the Internet safer. We’re proposing rights-respecting alternatives, including interoperability. Explore global harms to the open Internet, and the remedies being proposed on this new map. #StopKillingtheInternet
stopkillingtheinternet.com
Stop Killing the Internet
Big tech and governments are walling off the open internet. We oppose restrictions and advance alternatives that protect people and their rights.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 15/09/2026
Your experience of AI matters. Black AI Futures is gathering the global Black community's experience of AI, from healthcare and hiring to online life, into evidence that's carried into national and international policy. Anonymous and ~12-15 mins. Add your voice: blackaifutures.org/survey?sourc...
Black AI Futures

INTERNATIONAL SURVEY • 2026/2027
The State of AI & Black Communities

Wherever you are in the world, your experience of Al counts. The first survey mapping how the global Black community lives with Al, carried into national and international policy conversations.

Take the survey: https://blackaifutures.org/survey
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 15/09/2026
New opportunity to work with ORG 🚀 We're looking for an independent consultant or small consultancy to produce a report for organisations to reduce their dependence on large technology infrastructure providers and towards a collaborative open source model. Closing date: 30 September. Apply now ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
Consultant Opportunity
Public-Sector Technology Exit and Collaborative Open Source Open Rights Group (ORG) is seeking an independent consultant or small consultancy to help produce an accessible report for UK government dep...
067
Reposted by Open Rights Group
Clive Lewis MP @labourlewis.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I spoke at a roundtable put on by @openrightsgroup.org to discuss the UK’s digital sovereignty. We spoke about the urgent need for the government to reduce dependence on Big Tech firms and looked at alternatives such as open-source technology that could help us get there. (1/3)
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 14/09/2026
Coming up this week 🔔 It's the first of a series of townhall events delivered by the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition. Join us in London to explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are currently being used by the Met. 🗓️ Thurs 17 September 🕕 6-9pm 📍The Liberation Centre Register now ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
Safety Not Surveillance London Townhall
Join the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition in London as we explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are currently being used by the Met, the harms and risks of their continues roll out, and w...
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 11/09/2026
“If adults are required to go through an ID check point to disable [nudity scanning] software then millions of people could be faced with either compromising their privacy or having a phone they paid for restricted by blocking software.” 💬 ORG's James Baker on the latest online safety announcement.
computerweekly.com
Government to force tech companies to verify age of users to protect children | Computer Weekly
Phone and tablet users will be required to verify their ages with credit card or official ID under government plans to prevent under-18s viewing nude images.  The government is to introduce legislatio...
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 10/09/2026
Cover your bits, the government wants to put scanning tech on your phone. The aim? To prevent kids receiving and sending nudes. But it'll be there as default for everyone, unless you go through age verification to disable it. It's a disproportionate move that'll compromise privacy and security.
openrightsgroup.org
Nudity scanning tech will leave us more exposed
The Government’s proposals to prevent under 18s from creating or sharing nude images aim to address serious issues such as sextortion, grooming, and abuse.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 07/09/2026
"The public is being kept in the dark about how systems affect them. We urgently need AI regulation that puts transparency, accountability and the public interest first, protecting human rights and ensuring AI works for all of us." ORG's @jim.killock.org.uk Read about our new report ⬇️
independent.co.uk
Warning UK ministers are putting interests of Big Tech ahead of public on AI
UK public sector has awarded more than 2,000 contracts for AI-related projects in past eight years, analysis found
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 03/09/2026
AI is seeping into the public sector. But at what cost? Our new report finds that its adoption is opaque, unaccountable and for the benefit of Big Tech, not the public. This is a rallying cry for the Minister for AI to regulate public sector AI systems in accordance with human rights. Read more ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
ORG and MPs call for public sector use of AI to be regulated
About the report The report finds that the UK’s adoption of AI is a key part of state strategy that appears to be principally motivated by improving economic performance and bolstering innovation.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 27/08/2026
The government is trying yet again to ram a backdoor into Apple's encrypted products. But you ask the UK public and over 90% say they should have a right to private conversations online. New polling by @cdt.org makes it clear that attacks on encryption aren't backed by public opinion. Read more ⬇️
computerweekly.com
Public wary of UK government ‘backdoor’ surveillance following Apple row, poll reveals | Computer Weekly
The public is wary of UK government surveillance powers that require technology companies to build ‘backdoors’ to access encrypted communications, according to a poll of 2,000 people in the UK by a…
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Reposted by Open Rights Group
Institute for Public Policy Research @ippr.org · 27/08/2026
📢 NEW REPORT: Big Tech dominance is holding back UK businesses and innovation. One answer to better growth lies in backing stronger competition policy - read the latest from us on opening up digital markets and strengthening UK digital sovereignty. www.ippr.org/articles/bot...
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 26/08/2026
Farage proposes to scrap GDPR... where to start? GDPR protects women, workers, patients, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, and everybody else from discrimination and abuse. Scrapping it would be a capitulation to abusive Big Tech corporations and the Trump administration that backs them.
politico.eu
Nigel Farage wants to scrap GDPR for the UK
Reform UK said GDPR has “strangled small businesses and tech firms.”
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 26/08/2026
Coming up, the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition is holding townhall events across the country. Join us to explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ tech is being used by local police forces. And what can be done about it. London – 17 September Manchester – 24 September Bristol – 1 October Book now ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
Safety Not Surveillance – National Townhalls on AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies
This autumn, the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition will host a series of community townhalls in London, Manchester and Bristol – bringing the public together to discuss the impacts of AI tools and ‘cri...
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 25/08/2026
The flawed eVisa scheme strikes again. Not for the first time, a person's data has been incorrectly linked to someone else's account. Last year, ORG and 18 other groups called on the ICO to investigate the data breaches and accessibility issues with the eVisa scheme. But they've done nothing.
theguardian.com
Woman stranded in Spain after UK’s eVisa system mistakes her for twin sister
Nidia Webb, who is legally settled in UK, falls foul of ‘known issue’ with Home Office’s digitised immigration process
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Reposted by Open Rights Group
The Citizens @the-citizens.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
“Asking Ofcom to hold Big Tech to account by themselves is like asking referees to stop club owners fixing matches," @openrightsgroup.org ICYMI: Is Ofcom fit for purpose? citizensreunited.substack.com/p/far-too-sl...
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 20/08/2026
Nottinghamshire Police could target children for anti-social behaviour using their intrusive and discriminatory face-scanning tech. We've joined Big Brother Watch and leading rights groups to tell the force to #StopFacialRecognition. Read the letter ➡️ www.openrightsgroup.org/app/uploads/...
Image of a live facial recognition camera.

Text: Don't use facial recognition to target children: Rights groups tell Nottinghamshire Police.

Logos: Big Brother Watch, Defend Digital Me, EFF, Liberty, ORG, Race Equality First, Statewatch Stopwatch.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 15/08/2026
Young people have their say: rethink the social media ban. It makes a bad situation worse. Teens are just being pushed into unregulated spaces. A ban does nothing to actually tackle the cause of online harms coming from the business model of the platforms themselves. That’s what we need to fix.
independent.co.uk
Young people call on Burnham to rethink social media ban
Youth groups have warned the Prime Minister the plans could lead young people to less regulated parts of the internet.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 13/08/2026
Prevent referrals have shot up by ~40% 📈 Kids, teens and vulnerable people are being pushed into a mass surveillance programme where 80% of referrals don't go anywhere. But their data remains in the system. It’s clear that a programme designed for counter-terrorism has lost the plot. Read more ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
Rising Prevent referrals and the runaway train of mass surveillance
Over 10,000 people were referred to the Prevent programme between October 2024 to September 2025, according to the government’s latest figures.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 06/08/2026
Prevent referrals rocketed by almost 40% last year 🚨 Of those referred into this counter-terrorism programme, the majority were under 18. Almost 400 were children under 10! More than a third have a mental health condition or are neurodiverse. This is a huge expansion of the surveillance state.
bbc.co.uk
Nearly 10,000 people referred to Prevent anti-terror scheme, figures show
The Home Office says the 10-year-high in referrals could be due to the 2024 Southport attacks.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 29/07/2026
The use of AI in asylum decision-making is a disaster. AI hallucinated a document that led to an asylum application being denied. Applicants aren't being informed that opaque AI tools are being used in their case, nor being given the opportunity to correct errors churned out by these opaque tools.
theguardian.com
Home Office used ‘AI hallucinated’ information to refuse asylum claim, judge suggests
Upper tribunal unable to find document cited in case and claims it is ‘analogous to relying on bogus evidence’
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Reposted by Open Rights Group
The Citizens @the-citizens.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
“Burnham's priority should be to end the UK's dependency on a handful of US-based tech companies that have excessive influence over our lives," @openrightsgroup.org 🚨 Leading campaigners demand a new digital deal from Burnham
citizensreunited.substack.com
The people or Palantir: tech campaigners demand a new deal from Burnham
For too long, Britain has served Big Tech billionaires at the expense of ordinary people. We spoke to leading tech campaigners to set out a blueprint for Burnham.
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Reposted by Open Rights Group
jonathan w. y. gray @jwyg.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
enjoyed visiting @sussexdigitalhums.bsky.social for exchanges on public data cultures, rethinking data sovereignty, data against feminicide, refugee data, full stack feminism, intersectional feminist organising, decolonising the Internet, living archives & more 🌌🌕✨ jonathangray.org/2026/06/24/s...
jonathangray.org
public data cultures and rethinking data sovereignty at University of Sussex
I was recently invited to give a keynote on Public Data Cultures at a research symposium on Digital Sovereignty Across Disciplines at the Sussex Humanities Lab, University of Sussex.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 20/07/2026
A new Prime Minister is a fresh opportunity to stand up to Big Tech. We must break the excessive power that a handful of US companies have over our lives. We've joined with partner organisations to end this dependency and unlock British innovation. Read ➡️ www.openrightsgroup.org/app/uploads/...
Dear Prime Minister, You have inherited an economy that has been quietly wired to serve a handful of dominant US-based technology firms. You also have the rare opportunity to tap into the public mood by curbing their excessive power over the economy and our lives. A critical break with the UK’s current relationship with dominant Big Tech and AI monopolies is core to a successful premiership. The abuse of structural and market power of a small number of Big Tech companies is a root cause of many of the problems the UK public face: huge potential losses in tax receipts because of firms avoiding paying their fair share in taxes, an economy that feels increasingly out of reach for most, the extraction of value hindering real growth and innovation, and meaningful climate action being undermined. Our call to you is not for an anti-tech response, but an anti-monopoly one. Such a position would help unlock the British innovation and growth that these monopolies are currently suppressing.Use public procurement as an industrial-strategy tool.

You have duly spoken about bringing "good growth in every postcode." We share that ambition, however a different kind of growth cannot take root while a handful of Big Tech monopolies sit astride the digital economy, extracting value from our communities, returning it to shareholders while harming the environment. Fair competition is therefore not just beneficial to consumers, but one of the essential drivers of long-term growth and the improvement of living-standards. We would welcome the chance to discuss these points further, and to support you in turning it into policy.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 19/07/2026
Is it bye bye bye for Digital ID? As ORG’s @jim.killock.org.uk said, this scheme would risk “creating a digital surveillance infrastructure that will change everyone’s daily lives.” Another authoritarian assault on our rights could hit the shredder as Burnham heads to No.10. We’ll wait and see…
theguardian.com
Burnham to scrap Starmer’s digital ID scheme in ‘reset of priorities’
Incoming PM will reallocate unspecified resources from unpopular plan to helping with cost of living
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 17/07/2026
Is the ICO is without a head. But its problems run deeper 🚧 The regulator has taken its hands off the wheel by failing to enforce data protection law for a long time. As the search for a new Commissioner gets underway, the ICO needs a fundamental reset that puts our rights first. Read our blog ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
Wanted: Government to fix the ICO
Following the conclusion of an internal HR process, the Information Commissioner is on garden leave, before his final exit.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 16/07/2026
TODAY ⏰️ We've partnered with @sflcin.bsky.social and other groups in a special event. The expert panel, including ORG's James Baker, will explore how governments are shaping age assurance laws, the role of platforms and the risks to our rights and the open Internet. Watch live from 3pm BST ⬇️
youtube.com
What Age Assurance means for the future of digital rights, online safety and the internet at large
In collaboration with Open Rights Group, Open Net Korea, Stop Killing Games, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Index on Censorship, this event brings toget...
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 16/07/2026
Yesterday we hosted an event on how the UK can build Digital Sovereignty. Our panel explored open source and the Digital Commons in creating a more resilient, transparent and equitable future. Catch up on the event with @jim.killock.org.uk, @megafreda.eurosky.social and @jmaris.me. Watch now ⬇️
youtube.com
From Digital Dependence to Digital Sovereignty
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 16/07/2026
Last week we sent a letter signed by 20 organisations calling for an investigation into the ICO for failings over the eVisa scheme. Despite issues with the scheme being raised from the start, the ICO hasn't taken action against the Home Office to protect migrants' data rights. We need answers.
independent.co.uk
Calls for probe into lack of action on eVisa failings that resulted in data breach
Exclusive: UK’s data regulator failing to hold the government to account for breaches, campaigners say
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Reposted by Open Rights Group
Megan Kirkwood @megafreda.eurosky.social · 15/07/2026
TODAY! Really looking forward to the discussions :)
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 15/07/2026
VPNs are safe... for now 🛡️ The government backs down on restricting this vital cybersecurity tool. Alongside the announcement of a social media curfew for 16 and 17 year olds comes a win for privacy! Plans to age-gate or restrict VPNs have been dropped, but we're not complacent to future risks.
theguardian.com
UK 16- and 17-year-olds to be encouraged to follow midnight social media curfew
Midnight to 6am block on some apps is latest stage of Labour’s bid to protect young people from online harms
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 15/07/2026
Digital sovereignty, if done right, could ensure we have a thriving software ecosystem. Ecological digital sovereignty is where digital systems are diverse, interoperable, locally adaptable, and not controlled by any single point of power. ORG’s James Baker writes for @green-isles.bsky.social ⬇️
greenisles.uk
Ecological Digital Sovereignty: Monocultures to Ecosystems - Greenisles.uk
By James Baker, Platform Power and Free Expression Program Manager at the Open Rights Group. As a child, I remember journeys before screens were commonplace. Sitting with my head against the cool…
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 14/07/2026
Coming up on Thursday, we've partnered with @sflcin.bsky.social for a discussion on age assurance. Find out what the global push for social media bans and age assurance systems means for our rights from an expert panel. 🗓️ 16 July 🕧️ 3-4:30pm BST 💻️ Online Register ➡️ form.sflc.in/what-age-ass...
What age assurance means for the future of digital rights, online safety, and the Internet at large.

Speakers:

James Baker, Platform Power and Free
Expression Program Manager – Open Rights Group

Nicholas Williams, Policy and Campaigns Officer – Index on Censorship

Moritz Katzner, General Director, European
Affairs & U.S. Advisory – Stop Killing Games

Paige Collings, Senior Speech and Privacy
Activist – Electronic Frontier Foundation

Date: 16th July 2026
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 PM IST
Mode: Online
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 14/07/2026
TOMORROW ⏰️ Join our special event on how the UK can build back control over our digital infrastructure, data and tech with open source. Hear from @jim.killock.org.uk, @megafreda.eurosky.social and Jordan Maris discuss Digital Sovereignty. 🗓️ 15 July 🕧️ 6-8pm BST 💻️ Online Register now ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
From Digital Dependence to Digital Sovereignty
The UK’s over reliance on a small number of foreign technology companies is putting our economy, security and democracy at risk.
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 14/07/2026
Today we’ve joined over 20 organisations to urge the UK Government to protect children online without making the internet less secure by restricting VPNs. Child safety and security aren’t competing objectives – we need both. Read our letter ➡️ www.openrightsgroup.org/publications... #SafeAndSecure
Protecting children online is an objective we all share. The challenge is ensuring measures strengthen child safety without weakening the privacy and security millions of people rely on every day, including children.

As organisations committed to a safe, secure, and rights-respecting internet, we are concerned by suggestions that the Government restrict virtual private networks (VPNs). VPNs are cybersecurity tools. They help people protect personal information on public Wi-Fi, enable secure remote working, allow students to access education networks safely, and help small businesses protect their systems. VPNs are essential for human rights defenders and journalists, domestic abuse survivors, the LGBTQ+ community, and others at heightened risk online.

The evidence does not support assumptions that young people use VPNs to bypass age restrictions. Ofcom’s research found that only around 3% of children had used VPNs to access content meant for older audiences. Evidence from Australia shows children are much more likely to get around age checks by not being asked, giving false information, or even drawing on a moustache.

Restricting VPNs would undercut the security and privacy of millions, without making children safer. Age-gating VPNs would require everyone to surrender sensitive personal information simply to access tools designed to protect privacy. Blocking VPN traffic reliably is technically unfeasible, and risks blocking employers, schools and public authorities using VPNs from accessing parts of the web. This would push people away from compliant and reputable VPN providers toward unregulated, data-exploiting services that are harder to oversee, leaving them less secure.

The Government should focus on policy interventions that address the root causes of online harms: strong enforcement of platform obligations, better parental controls, investment in digital literacy, and safety- and privacy-by-design obligations.Children deserve an Internet that is safe, private, and secure. Those objectives should reinforce one another, not come into conflict.

Yours sincerely,

• Amnesty International
• Big Brother Watch
• Defend Digital Me
• ExpressVPN
• Global Partners Digital
• Index on Censorship
• Internet Infrastructure Coalition
• Internet Society
• Internet Society UK
• lnternews
• IPVanish
• Liberty
• Mozilla
• Mullvad VPN
• Mysterium VPN
• NordVPN
• Open Rights Group
• Proton
• Reporters Without Borders
• Stop Killing Games
• Stop Killing Internet
• Surfshark
• Tuta
• VPN Trust Initiative
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 13/07/2026
"People’s faces being scanned without consent and being added to lists is worrying enough, but the speed which Facewatch technology now makes it possible for someone to encounter the police force in the middle of their daily shop is a really dangerous escalation." 🗣️ Sarah Lasoye for ORG.
theguardian.com
Alarm over launch of facial recognition in UK shops that instantly alerts police
Civil liberties groups say Facewatch system in stores such as Sainsbury’s and B&M is ‘dangerous escalation’
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Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 08/07/2026
NEW: 20 civil society organisations have called for an investigation into the ICO for failing to uphold data protection law in relation to eVisas. This scheme has been plagued with breaches and accessibility issues. And the ICO has done nothing to hold the Home Office to account. Find out more ⬇️
openrightsgroup.org
Civil society organisations call for ICO to be investigated over eVisas
20 immigration, data protection, and human rights organisations have asked the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee to investigate the Information Commissioner’s Office’s…
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