Is it illegal to use this site UK?

[Leopard2023]

Now that the online safety bill has been passed, is it illegal for me to use this site, or is it legal as long as the site is up?

 

[jonward55]

Now that the online safety bill has been passed, is it illegal for me to use this site, or is it legal as long as the site is up?

Do as you like, it's a free country, you are not doing anything wrong.

 

[Beelzebub]

Its illegal to communicate how to kill yourself online, or platform such a thing, its not illegal to consume it I think

 

[Division Day]

I imagine it will go the same way as when they cracked down on piracy sites. ISPs blocking the sites, VPNs used to get around it and no action against users.

 

[Leopard2023]

Its illegal to communicate how to kill yourself online, or platform such a thing, its not illegal to consume it I think

When did it become illegal?

 

[Seered Doom]

There's also Tor you can use to circumvent the block

 

[SpiritualDeath]

relax they're not gonna trace you down

 

[Beelzebub]

When did it become illegal?

That depends on your interpretation of the law, the recent law makes the definition of online harms encompass more things I think. So it was always illegal to harm someone online

 

[Seered Doom]

It will be okay. There will be ways to get on here. I'm more than certain the mods and admin can assist if needed

 

[Division Day]

The whole thing is so dumb.

Like sure, it's people seeing things on Tiktok that pushes them, because it's easier to pretend that's the issue than confront the fact that people are seeking things out because they already have those feelings. Actually providing good mental health care to people who are struggling would be crazy.

 

[Old Friend]

Do as you like, it's a free country, you are not doing anything wrong.

Don't think it's been a free country for a while. The interference in what people say and do increases year upon year - this "safety bill" being merely the latest manifestation. The ratchet only ever goes one way.

You'd have had an easier time minding your own business under Oliver Cromwell - so long as you weren't a royalist, obviously.

 

[SmollMushroom]

I think is as illegal as watching movies in streaming websites.

 

[Seered Doom]

Which means it's not that illegal

 

[tiger b]

Now that the online safety bill has been passed, is it illegal for me to use this site, or is it legal as long as the site is up?

It depends what you mean by 'use'.

I wouldn't be too paranoid at this stage but I wouldn't be too complacent either.

We will see how the Act (not a bill anymore) is actually implemented in reality. I'm going to stay calmly vigilant, and on only certain threads, watch what I contribute - but that's just my approach.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I'd imagine- so long as you aren't encouraging someone to suicide or- telling them step by step what to do- whilst they are doing it (that seems important) then, hopefully authorities won't be all that interested. I imagine someone handing out sources all over the place could potentially be seen as assisting a suicide. Or- someone bullying or coercing someone into doing it I imagine could- and should get into trouble- but thankfully- we don't see much of that here. In fact- I can't think of a single instance. Hopefully, it won't become any more of a nanny state than it already is.

 

[darkenmydoorstep]

The new announcement that pops up (UK based) saying the site is now complying after the regulator 'reached out' frankly makes me sick. Especially after all the stuff they spouted about not taking any notice of it previously.
I honestly couldn't give a fuck if the police do come round or whatever they do because I've used this site. I'd probably have s better life in jail anyway and there'd be a higher chance of someone finishing me off too.

 

[Meditation guide]

That depends on your interpretation of the law, the recent law makes the definition of online harms encompass more things I think. So it was always illegal to harm someone online

One person's idea of what is harmful may be another person's idea of what is helpful. How horrible that governments are the thought police, dictating what people can and can't read.

 

[Seered Doom]

What part of the 1984 playbook are they gonna pull out next? Vaporisation? Labour camps (if that didn't happen yet)? Room 101?

 

[Meditation guide]

What part of the 1984 playbook are they gonna pull out next? Vaporisation? Labour camps (if that didn't happen yet)? Room 101?

See the movie Fahrenheit 451, that's the temperature books burn at, mass government book burnings.

 

[Seered Doom]

As if the edited UK ending of 1984 isn't bad enough, now we're actually burning the books deemed unsuitable. That's fantastic. We stan an totalitarian regime making the populous stupid (tone is sarcastic)

 

[gbi2]

I put this in the wrong thread:

Illegal content

• promoting or facilitating suicide
• promoting self harm

There is probably more in the Bill that the government thinks gives it the right to protect fully grown adults from themselves but I think this is the crux of it.

They eagerly misinterpret the site to be doing the above, when it is doing nothing of the sort. Individual members could be guilty of laws, such as the bit that states helping someone commit suicide is a criminal offence (hence why I think I have been careful to not give advice but to just state my own findings and attempts) but you are fine with visiting the site discussing anything as long as you are not promoting or facilitating suicide, or self harm.

I think this example would be a good one:
If someone posted a question how could I kill myself? either don't answer to be sure you stay on the 'right' side of the law, or reply with something stating facts, so like "It is illegal for me in the UK to advise someone how to do that so I cannot offer advice. I tried it and this is what I tried: [explanation]. I am not suggesting you try this, it is just my experience.

Then really it is up to the person you reply to, to take the post in a convenient context for them. Possibly, disclaimers in every post might be the way to go. Maybe even a forum modification is needed that someone in the UK or other country prohibiting discussion can have as a signature stating their stance due to their residency. "Nothing I say is Advice"

Just a quick thought or two.

 

[Seered Doom]

I don't think the current UK government understands the slippery slope fallacy they brought upon themselves

 

[SilentSadness]

It's frustrating that the site is now being blocked after repeated statements that the site will not yield to outside pressure. I feel there is a lack of communication from the site owners.

 

[mekurin]

It is illegal to assist in suicide however viewing the site should't be illegal. They will simply block the surface/deep web version of this site however tor is a great option. VPNs work too but personally I don't trust them. If you are worried they will break your door down and look though ur pc however, you can use TailsOS. Very useful OS that runs tor primarily. Won't go into too much detail but basically everything you do gets deleted the moment you turn off the computer.
Some dark times are coming for the UK

 

[wait.what]

EFF.org's UK blogger is of the opinion that the ultimate target of the Online Safety Bill is anyone who creates or uses an online encryption system that doesn't have a backdoor to let the government take a peek at what they're doing. This current iteration of the law falls short of that goal, but there's always the next legislative session, and the next, and the next.

Meanwhile, it's apparently time to build PR for an encryptionless state by engaging in some entertaining security theater, such as having that self-parody of a BBC journalist chase Marcus around. Marcus makes a convenient internet dragon to slay—he's a foreigner, he's a Black man, he's a self-identified incel who's had bouts of depression and suicidality, AND HE DOESN'T EVEN USE THE IMAGINARY SOFTWARE THAT KEEPS ALL CHILDREN OFF THE WEBSITE HE NO LONGER MANAGES! ALSO HE MURDERS EVERYBODY IRL NO FAKESIES OMGGGGGG!!!

So let's all pay attention to that rather foolish caricature of the Scary Web Stranger, instead of remaining alert to the very real possibility of having some law enforcement algorithm spidering every digital communication going into or out of Great Britain.

Of course, nothing needs to be secret if you're not doing anything wrong, which is why governments love handing out unredacted copies of every document they generate.

Wait, what?