30th July 2025

Good evening all

Those of a certain age will remember Constable George Dixon at the Dock Green police station in the East End of London. His life was simply spent dealing with crime, successfully controlling it through common sense and human understanding.

Where did it all go wrong? Something of a conundrum has already been created for reconsideration by the Labour government’s announcing it’s intention to lower the voting age to 16. This would mean that you cannot view age related content until you are an adult of 18 years, yet you can have the right to vote?

The Online Safety Act 2023 is a landmark piece of UK legislation designed to enhance protections for both children and adults online. It introduces a comprehensive set of legal duties for social media platforms, search engines, and other online service providers. 

As of 25 July 2025, all online platforms are under a legal obligation to protect children from harmful content. Under the Online Safety Act 2023, services that host user-generated content or facilitate search must now implement highly effective age assurance measures. 

By shifting responsibility onto tech platforms, the Act aims to make the online environment safer, more accountable, and less vulnerable to misuse—especially where children are concerned. How could anyone not agree with that sentiment?

But as the great Donald Rumsfeld said, “if you try to please everybody all of the time somebody is not going to like it”.

Hundreds of thousands of people are protesting the UK’s Online Safety Act, accusing the government of enabling censorship and undermining free speech. The backlash follows the start of Ofcom's enforcement of new internet regulations under the law.

Just five days after Ofcom's new internet regulations came into force, well over 400,000 people have signed a petition calling for their repeal.

Critics of the act argue the law threatens freedom of expression, it may force platforms to over-censor legal content and could weaken encryption on private messaging apps. 

The controversy underscores a broader debate about the balance between safety and privacy in the digital age highlighted by a the setting up of new Home Office unit of elite UK police officers who will monitor social media. Drawn from forces nationwide, the team aims to "maximise social media intelligence" and will no doubt act accordingly.

Due to this the nation has seen a huge surge in individuals and firms considering using a VPN, but what is a VPN and how does it work?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) establishes a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet. By routing your internet traffic through a remote VPN server, it masks your IP address and shields your online activities from surveillance, tracking, or interception.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Encryption.  VPNs scramble your data using encryption protocols, making it unreadable to anyone who intercepts it—especially useful on unsecured networks.
• IP Address Masking. Your internet traffic is routed through the VPN server, replacing your real IP address with the server’s, effectively concealing your true location and identity.
• Protection on Public Wi-Fi
  VPNs are particularly valuable when using public Wi-Fi networks, such as those in airports or cafes, where they help safeguard against cybercriminals trying to steal personal data.
• Bypassing Geo-RestrictionsVPNs allow access to content that might be restricted in your region by connecting through servers located in countries where that content is available.
• Enhanced Privacy and Anonymity. A VPN helps prevent websites, advertisers, and even your internet service provider (ISP) from tracking your online behaviour, supporting greater digital privacy.

As of now, using a VPN in the UK is legal. Even using one to circumvent age verification checks does not constitute a criminal offence. However, Ofcom, the UK’s online safety regulator, discourages such use, especially in contexts involving age-restricted content. Despite this, the effectiveness of enforcement remains limited.

Using a VPN can offer privacy benefits, but it also comes with several drawbacks:

• Reduced Speed: VPNs may slow down your internet due to encryption and re-routing.
• Security & Trust Risks: Not all VPN providers are reliable; some may log or sell your data.
• Compatibility Problems: Certain apps or websites, especially streaming services, may not work with VPNs.
• Legal Issues: VPN use is restricted or illegal in some countries and can carry legal risks.
• Poor User Experience: Free or low-quality VPNs may have connection issues, limited servers, or complex setups.

The Online Safety Act 2023 can best be summed up in the words of Ronald Reagan, a man I did get to meet many years ago: “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help”. Despite their good intention in this regard and many other recent decisions they have not helped at all.

Panacea Comment