Graham Smith
@cyberleagle.bsky.social
IT and internet lawyer. Sceptical tech enthusiast. Reposts and links are not endorsements. All views my own. No posts are legal advice. www.cyberleagle.com
Reposted by Graham Smith
Back in the 1950s, law schools apparently received inquiries (from potential applicants, I assume?) that sometimes included a lot of questions. Here, Dean Prosser of UC Berkeley imagines a reply.
jle.aals.org/home/vol10/i...
jle.aals.org/home/vol10/i...
November 9, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Back in the 1950s, law schools apparently received inquiries (from potential applicants, I assume?) that sometimes included a lot of questions. Here, Dean Prosser of UC Berkeley imagines a reply.
jle.aals.org/home/vol10/i...
jle.aals.org/home/vol10/i...
It's only a problem for the #OnlineSafetyAct if (a) the OSA was meant to catch all uses of AI chatbots in the first place (it wasn't) and (b) we think that extending 'regulation by regulator' is a good way of addressing the issue. Predictably, that model is already floundering in its current tasks.
As Prof Lorna Woods tells @bbclaurak.bsky.social in her piece on risks of #ai #chatbots, the #onlinesafetyact is "clear but doesn't match the market ...
the problem is it doesn't catch all services where users engage with a chatbot one-to-one." 1/2 ⬇️
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
the problem is it doesn't catch all services where users engage with a chatbot one-to-one." 1/2 ⬇️
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
Mothers say AI chatbots encouraged their sons to kill themselves - BBC News
In her first UK interview Megan Garcia speaks to Laura Kuenssberg about the death of her teenage son.
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org
November 9, 2025 at 1:21 PM
It's only a problem for the #OnlineSafetyAct if (a) the OSA was meant to catch all uses of AI chatbots in the first place (it wasn't) and (b) we think that extending 'regulation by regulator' is a good way of addressing the issue. Predictably, that model is already floundering in its current tasks.
Reposted by Graham Smith
Also this video is weirdly American for a British politician to have created.
“What are u gonna wear to class tomorrow?”
- probably a school uniform, because we’re in the UK.
“I’ll pick you up in the parking lot.”
- no u won’t, Chad, because this is Birmingham and we call it a car park
“What are u gonna wear to class tomorrow?”
- probably a school uniform, because we’re in the UK.
“I’ll pick you up in the parking lot.”
- no u won’t, Chad, because this is Birmingham and we call it a car park
November 6, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Also this video is weirdly American for a British politician to have created.
“What are u gonna wear to class tomorrow?”
- probably a school uniform, because we’re in the UK.
“I’ll pick you up in the parking lot.”
- no u won’t, Chad, because this is Birmingham and we call it a car park
“What are u gonna wear to class tomorrow?”
- probably a school uniform, because we’re in the UK.
“I’ll pick you up in the parking lot.”
- no u won’t, Chad, because this is Birmingham and we call it a car park
Reposted by Graham Smith
Submission by Information Commissioner to @ofcom.bsky.social's #OnlineSafetyAct additional safety measures consultation. 32 pages that should give Ofcom considerable food for thought. ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
Ofcom's consultation on additional safety measures
ico.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Submission by Information Commissioner to @ofcom.bsky.social's #OnlineSafetyAct additional safety measures consultation. 32 pages that should give Ofcom considerable food for thought. ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
Submission by Information Commissioner to @ofcom.bsky.social's #OnlineSafetyAct additional safety measures consultation. 32 pages that should give Ofcom considerable food for thought. ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
Ofcom's consultation on additional safety measures
ico.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Submission by Information Commissioner to @ofcom.bsky.social's #OnlineSafetyAct additional safety measures consultation. 32 pages that should give Ofcom considerable food for thought. ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
Reposted by Graham Smith
18-year-old musician #DianaLoginova has been sentenced to 13 days in jail for her viral performances of anti-Kremlin songs. She faces a second charge of discrediting the army through her music. We condemn her arrest and call for her release:
www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/29/s...
www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/29/s...
St. Petersburg Street Musician Jailed Again Over Viral Anti-Putin Performance - The Moscow Times
A Russian court has sentenced 18-year-old street musician Diana Loginova to 13 days in jail for a second time this month over her viral performances of anti-Kremlin songs.
www.themoscowtimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:50 PM
18-year-old musician #DianaLoginova has been sentenced to 13 days in jail for her viral performances of anti-Kremlin songs. She faces a second charge of discrediting the army through her music. We condemn her arrest and call for her release:
www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/29/s...
www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/29/s...
Reposted by Graham Smith
European Union's Digital Services Act requires online platforms to implement robust “content moderation” measures, which could curtail Americans' speech freedoms; role of "trusted flaggers" has drawn particular scrutiny.
A European Threat to the First Amendment – John David Rosenthal
Do we trust the EU's "trusted flaggers" to police American speech?
lawliberty.org
November 6, 2025 at 12:50 PM
European Union's Digital Services Act requires online platforms to implement robust “content moderation” measures, which could curtail Americans' speech freedoms; role of "trusted flaggers" has drawn particular scrutiny.
Reposted by Graham Smith
Criminalise malicious AI deepfakes, says MP www.bbc.com/news/article...
Good: Norfolk Police has reportedly confirmed that a "deep fake" video of Tory MP George Freeman announcing his defection to Reform UK was not a crime
#OnlineSafetyAct #deepfakes #genAI #techpolicy
Good: Norfolk Police has reportedly confirmed that a "deep fake" video of Tory MP George Freeman announcing his defection to Reform UK was not a crime
#OnlineSafetyAct #deepfakes #genAI #techpolicy
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Criminalise malicious AI deepfakes, says MP www.bbc.com/news/article...
Good: Norfolk Police has reportedly confirmed that a "deep fake" video of Tory MP George Freeman announcing his defection to Reform UK was not a crime
#OnlineSafetyAct #deepfakes #genAI #techpolicy
Good: Norfolk Police has reportedly confirmed that a "deep fake" video of Tory MP George Freeman announcing his defection to Reform UK was not a crime
#OnlineSafetyAct #deepfakes #genAI #techpolicy
Reposted by Graham Smith
Commission launches work on a code of practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content | Shaping Europe’s digital future digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...
Commission launches work on a code of practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content
Today, the Commission launched work on a code of practice on the marking and labelling of AI-generated content.
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
November 5, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Commission launches work on a code of practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content | Shaping Europe’s digital future digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...
Reposted by Graham Smith
Reposted by Graham Smith
I find a link to a helpful table in a Reddit post. I click the link to the table. The table is not available in the UK because Imgur now blocks the UK due to the Online "Safety" Act.
We are a laughable nation.
We are a laughable nation.
November 4, 2025 at 7:04 AM
I find a link to a helpful table in a Reddit post. I click the link to the table. The table is not available in the UK because Imgur now blocks the UK due to the Online "Safety" Act.
We are a laughable nation.
We are a laughable nation.
Reposted by Graham Smith
This is a vital step in recognising the role violent porn plays in shaping attitudes and regulating an industry which promotes + profits from VAWG.
The Online Safety Act must now be updated to ensure online platforms are made to remove this content.
The Online Safety Act must now be updated to ensure online platforms are made to remove this content.
Government criminalises depictions of strangulation in pornography | End Violence Against Women
Yesterday (3rd November 2025), the government tabled amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill that will criminalise possessing or publishing depictions of strangulation or suffocation in pornography,...
www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk
November 4, 2025 at 2:33 PM
This is a vital step in recognising the role violent porn plays in shaping attitudes and regulating an industry which promotes + profits from VAWG.
The Online Safety Act must now be updated to ensure online platforms are made to remove this content.
The Online Safety Act must now be updated to ensure online platforms are made to remove this content.
Reposted by Graham Smith
A hint as to the ambition of the Recommendation? www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
Global Digital Services Act? Lessons from the Upcoming Council of Europe Recommendation on Online Safety and User Empowerment
El grup DITD (Dret, Internet i Transformació Digital) de la UOC us convida al seminari Global Digital Services Act? Lessons from the Upcoming Council of Europe Recommendation on Online Safety and User...
www.linkedin.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
A hint as to the ambition of the Recommendation? www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
The good: protecting individuals from arbitrary and unjustifiable state coercion.
The bad: Strasbourg’s theories of positive obligations and horizontality, putting the court in the position of meta-legislator.
The ugly: Art 17; the Art 10 ‘duties and responsibilities’ language.
The bad: Strasbourg’s theories of positive obligations and horizontality, putting the court in the position of meta-legislator.
The ugly: Art 17; the Art 10 ‘duties and responsibilities’ language.
#OnThisDay, 75 years ago, the European Convention on Human Rights was opened for signature in Rome.
The European Convention on Human Rights impacts over 700 million people in Europe, safeguarding our fundamental freedoms.
Happy anniversary, #ECHR!
The European Convention on Human Rights impacts over 700 million people in Europe, safeguarding our fundamental freedoms.
Happy anniversary, #ECHR!
November 4, 2025 at 9:17 AM
The good: protecting individuals from arbitrary and unjustifiable state coercion.
The bad: Strasbourg’s theories of positive obligations and horizontality, putting the court in the position of meta-legislator.
The ugly: Art 17; the Art 10 ‘duties and responsibilities’ language.
The bad: Strasbourg’s theories of positive obligations and horizontality, putting the court in the position of meta-legislator.
The ugly: Art 17; the Art 10 ‘duties and responsibilities’ language.
Reposted by Graham Smith
An enjoyable thread about one of the worst pieces of crap I’ve ever read, and absolutely the worst I’ve ever reviewed.
www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...
www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...
November 1, 2025 at 3:41 PM
An enjoyable thread about one of the worst pieces of crap I’ve ever read, and absolutely the worst I’ve ever reviewed.
www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...
www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...
Reposted by Graham Smith
"Nature connectedness is a psychological concept that measures the closeness of an individual’s relationship with other species." So there. (Surprised to find that the research wasn't conducted from a healing crystal shop in Totnes.)
November 1, 2025 at 1:28 PM
"Nature connectedness is a psychological concept that measures the closeness of an individual’s relationship with other species." So there. (Surprised to find that the research wasn't conducted from a healing crystal shop in Totnes.)
Reposted by Graham Smith
Not just in isolation: “More religious societies and cultures where there was a preference for faith over science showed high levels of nature connection.”
November 1, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Not just in isolation: “More religious societies and cultures where there was a preference for faith over science showed high levels of nature connection.”
Reposted by Graham Smith
If you saw this chart in isolation it would be incredibly hard not to conclude that being connected to nature sucks www.theguardian.com/environment/...
November 1, 2025 at 9:37 AM
If you saw this chart in isolation it would be incredibly hard not to conclude that being connected to nature sucks www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Graham Smith
This draft Council of Europe Recommendation would like to be sure that she is contributing to a "healthy, informed, and democratic public discourse, which is respectful of the rights of others". rm.coe.int/public-msi-e...
October 31, 2025 at 11:06 AM
This draft Council of Europe Recommendation would like to be sure that she is contributing to a "healthy, informed, and democratic public discourse, which is respectful of the rights of others". rm.coe.int/public-msi-e...
Reposted by Graham Smith
Additional Safety Measures consultation response from @demos-uk.bsky.social. #OnlineSafetyAct demos.co.uk/research/ofc...
Ofcom Consultation Response: Additional Safety Measures for online platforms
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Additional Safety Measures consultation response from @demos-uk.bsky.social. #OnlineSafetyAct demos.co.uk/research/ofc...
#OnlineSafetyAct working out exactly as designed, shock. Parliamentarians who designed it blaming everyone but themselves, shock.
House of Lords committee urges UK regulator Ofcom to "go further and faster" on enforcement of the Online Safety Act committees.parliament.uk/publications...
Lords Comms Com evidence session from last month committees.parliament.uk/event/24911/...
#openweb #censorship #techpolicy
Lords Comms Com evidence session from last month committees.parliament.uk/event/24911/...
#openweb #censorship #techpolicy
October 31, 2025 at 6:14 PM
#OnlineSafetyAct working out exactly as designed, shock. Parliamentarians who designed it blaming everyone but themselves, shock.
Reposted by Graham Smith
House of Lords committee urges UK regulator Ofcom to "go further and faster" on enforcement of the Online Safety Act committees.parliament.uk/publications...
Lords Comms Com evidence session from last month committees.parliament.uk/event/24911/...
#openweb #censorship #techpolicy
Lords Comms Com evidence session from last month committees.parliament.uk/event/24911/...
#openweb #censorship #techpolicy
October 31, 2025 at 1:37 PM
House of Lords committee urges UK regulator Ofcom to "go further and faster" on enforcement of the Online Safety Act committees.parliament.uk/publications...
Lords Comms Com evidence session from last month committees.parliament.uk/event/24911/...
#openweb #censorship #techpolicy
Lords Comms Com evidence session from last month committees.parliament.uk/event/24911/...
#openweb #censorship #techpolicy
Reposted by Graham Smith
Of the 2025 British Bafta Winners ONLY, and this is before I got bored, you had winners from:
Preston
Shrewsbury
Gateacres
Epsom
Ipswich
Preston
Shrewsbury
Gateacres
Epsom
Ipswich
Hi Lisa Nandy! I’m a BAFTA winner from a small town. Instead of asinine questions like this, why not tell us how we can continue to make a living in the eviscerated creative sector over which you notionally preside?
October 31, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Of the 2025 British Bafta Winners ONLY, and this is before I got bored, you had winners from:
Preston
Shrewsbury
Gateacres
Epsom
Ipswich
Preston
Shrewsbury
Gateacres
Epsom
Ipswich
Reposted by Graham Smith
All that I ask is that the culture secretary not ask questions which reveal she couldn’t tell you who *this year*’s Bafta shortlistees and winners were.
Hi Lisa Nandy! I’m a BAFTA winner from a small town. Instead of asinine questions like this, why not tell us how we can continue to make a living in the eviscerated creative sector over which you notionally preside?
October 31, 2025 at 11:36 AM
All that I ask is that the culture secretary not ask questions which reveal she couldn’t tell you who *this year*’s Bafta shortlistees and winners were.
Reposted by Graham Smith
I'm afraid I've got some bad news about the Online Safety Act www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Australian influencer family move to UK to avoid social media ban - BBC News
Beck and Bec Lea say the move will allow their teenage daughter to keep making content.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I'm afraid I've got some bad news about the Online Safety Act www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...