 MPs have voted to allow a new regulator - expected to be the BBFC - to censor legal porn websites. Amendments to the Digital Economy Bill were accepted by MPs during its third reading yesterday. This will mean that the the BBFC in its new role can instruct Internet Service Providers to block access to porn websites that don’t verify the age of their users, even though their content is legal in the UK.
In addition, sites that are not sanctioned must obey the regulator’s instructions and censor what is deemed unacceptable. The BBFC has indicated that:
Executive Director, Jim Killock said: “If the Digital Economy Bill is passed, the BBFC will have the power to instruct ISPs to block thousands of websites. This is unprecedented in the UK and the developed world. “In the short term, this is likely to disproportionately affect sexual minorities. However, there are wider implications for free speech. Once this administrative power to block websites is in place, it will invariably be used to censor other content. MPs have already asked why other material that is unsuitable for children is not being censored.” In addition, the proposals to demand that pornographic websites use age verification technology still have no privacy safeguards. Labour tabled an amendment outlining privacy duties for the regulator, but this was not adopted. The Government did not table any alternative privacy amendments. Killock added: “Websites could choose age verification tools that cause risk data leaks, tracking and even encourage credit card fraud unless the government place privacy standards into the bill. “This is incredibly irresponsible.” More than 11,000 people have signed an Open Rights Group petition calling for parliament to reject these plans: https://www.openrightsgroup.org/campaigns/digital-economy-bill-hub/stop-uk-censorship-of-legal-content
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 Responses to the death of former revolutionary Cuban leader Fidel Castro have been mixed. Those on the right wing of politics have attacked Castro even in death as an alleged mass murderer and more. Those on the left of politics have remembered a man who was not perfect but was a hero. Cuba under Castro faced years of crippling sanctions yet achieved much. Our first world leader response above is from Pres. Obama and the next is from Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau who said in a statement; Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the death of former Cuban President Fidel Castro Next we have US Secretary of State John Kerry; Press Statement US President elect Donald J Trump tweeted early Saturday "Fidel Castro is dead! Hours later preusmably with more than a little help from his script writer Piers Morgan shared the following allegedly from Trump tweeting "Wow. Trump's blistering statement re Castro." Yes of course what follows is TRUMP'S statement word for word with no help !!  Trump supporters and other right wingers in the USA have been critical of former US President Jimmy Carter's brief statement;  Here in the UK Jeremy Corbyn leader of the Labour Party reportedly said:  At time of writing I have been unable to find an official statement from the UK's unelected Prime Minister Theresa May.
Related Reading: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/salim-lamrani/cubas-health-care-system-_b_5649968.html http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/eileen-kersey/cubas-former-revolutionary-leader-fidel-castro-dies-aged-90  Press release: Government departments could share personal health and financial data with energy companies
The Bill aims to make it easier for low income households to get discounts on their energy bills. To do this, it has been proposed that energy companies should be automatically notified if customers are entitled to discounts. Previously the Government has claimed that this would not involve the sharing of personal data with energy companies. However, as energy companies all have different criteria for who is eligible for a discount, this might not be easy to achieve. The proposals as outlined in the Digital Economy Bill do not rule out the automatic sharing of data. This would include data about households who are not even entitled to a discount. Executive Director of Open Rights Group, Jim Killock said: “Previously the Government has said that it won't hand over our data to energy companies but the wording of the Digital Economy Bill tells a different story. “Energy companies only need to know that a customer is entitled to a discount; it’s not necessary for them to know what they earn, how many children they have or whether they have a long-term health condition. “Under the current proposals in the Digital Economy Bill, we could see the wholesale transfer of personal information from government departments to energy companies. “The Government can’t automatically share our data just because their system for determining who gets help is a mess. ” Open Rights Group is calling on the Government to:
Pam Cowburn Communications Director https://lists.openrightsgroup.org/listinfo/org-press Related reading: DeepMind hits back at criticism of its NHS data-sharing deal Digital Economy Bill: Why the Tories want to police more of the online world  Reacting to news that the government now supports blocking of websites that do not apply age verification tools, Jim Killock, Executive Director of the Open Rights Group said:
“This could lead to tens of thousands of websites being blocked, despite their content being perfectly legal. “In no way should this proposal be legislated for in this bill. There has been no thought or consultation, and the government has not even begun to define how blocking might be attempted. “They have no idea if it would work well or badly, or whether there is serious enough harm to justify such a massive restriction on UK adults access to legal material." “We do however know that over 90% of parents manage their children’s activities online, according to OFCOM, and that 70% of households do not have children.” Questions of accuracy, appeals, costs and extent versus efficacy of blocking have yet to be spelled out but we are expecting administrative orders rather than court-based blocking. CONTACT Jim Killock 07894498127 / press@openrightsgroup.org NOTES For details of mediation strategies used by parents, see https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for-industry/internet-policy/internet-safety-measures and https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/31754/Fourth-internet-safety-report.pdf linked from there About Open Rights Group Open Rights Group is the UK’s leading voice defending freedom of expression, privacy, innovation, creativity and consumer rights on the Internet. Founded in 2005, we have over 3000 paying supporters and a movement of 36,000 activists. Winner of the Liberty Human Rights Campaigner of the Year Award 2012 https://www.openrightsgroup.org/about/
Letter from a real doctor not a spin doctor.
Mr Hunt Yesterday Virgin were handed a £700 million pound contract for 200 various NHS services in the south west of the UK. At the same time, you gave a speech saying that we need to look at the USA for inspiration when it comes to how to manage the NHS. (Despite the fact that they spend double on their health care and have much worse outcomes than the NHS does, especially for the poor) So can you clarify please. Are you still saying that the NHS is not being privatised? Because evidence suggests it is. And do you still stand by your previous ideological oposition to the NHS as shown by: 1) A book you co-authored in 2005 which called for the 'denationalisation' of the NHS 2) As Culture Secretary you tried to stop any mention of the NHS in the Olympic ceremony? I know that you have since said that you have changed your mind and that you fully support the NHS ( as shown by.....welll...the best evidence for your support is by your wearing of the NHS badge) but......... its just that actions speak louder than words. I am afraid that I find it hard to believe what you are saying when it comes to your support of a nationalised NHS free at the point of care run for patients and not profits. So please just be fair to the staff and patients. As I keep asking my toddler, please just tell the truth. If my nine year old and seven year old can tell the truth, please can you? At least then we would know where we stand. regards Rob (A worried A&E Dr) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/11/virgin-care-700m-contract-200-nhs-social-care-services-bath-somerset  Statement from Hull City Council: Tent City Protest - 10/11/2016
"Following a meeting with the organisers of the tent city protest on Monday 7 November, we offered to meet and assess the needs of the rough sleepers present on the site and to provide emergency accommodation. Assessments were carried out yesterday and all of those who came forward were found suitable accommodation. "We know that there are only a handful of local rough sleepers on the site, most of whom are already known to us, and that the remainder of occupants are protesters from outside of the city. "Since tent city was established, our priority has been to get rough sleepers off the street and into warm accommodation, particularly as we are experiencing poor weather conditions. Outreach workers have visited the site and offered the occupants hostel places. There are currently enough bed places in Hull for all rough sleepers who need one. "We have a moral obligation to protect rough sleepers in this city, which we take extremely seriously, and we work extensively with them to enable them to live independent lives. "Sadly, we now know that the organisers of tent city are advising these vulnerable individuals to reject our offer of accommodation and remain on site for the false promise of permanent accommodation. Many of these individuals have significant problems, addictions and complex needs and it would not be in their best interests to offer them a permanent tenancy until they are ready to live independently. We will not set people up to fail. "We have actively sought to engage constructively with the organisers of tent city since their arrival in Hull. However, it is now unclear as to whether they are prepared to co-operate with us and, unfortunately, their behaviour is becoming increasingly intimidating to council and partner employees. "Fundamentally, their actions are encouraging rough sleepers to remain on the street. This is totally unacceptable and we are left with no option but to instigate legal proceedings to remove the protesters from the site and city. "We will continue to support rough sleepers in Hull and our outreach support will carry on, as it has been doing, 365 days per year." http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/eileen-kersey/hull-tent-city-championing-homeless-citizens |
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