The New Dark Age

2 May 2019 — Open Rights Group

As technology’s effect on daily life grows, Open Rights Group (ORG) is stepping up the fight to protect your rights online.

Online harms white paper published The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Home Office unveiled long anticipated plans to address pressing “online harms” from cyber bullying to terrorist content. ORG is working with a diverse coalition of organisations to ensure a sensible pursuit of a safer Internet that does not damage free expression. We’ll be in touch soon about how you can help.

Exciting ORGCon July 2019 lineup updates Former Google scientist and anti-censorship icon Jack Poulson joins Edward Snowden on our London event lineup as well as UN Special Rapporteur on the protection of freedom of expression David Kaye and director of Big Brother Watch Silkie Carlo. We’ve also confirmed an array of innovative tech-related art installations and live podcast recordings by Machine Learning Ethics. Early bird tickets are almost gone. If you haven’t already, get yours here.

Age verification enforcement date set Starting 15 July mandatory age verification technology for adult websites will be enforced, with non-compliant sites being blocked. ORG doesn’t object to shielding minors from pornography, but we strongly oppose the technology’s weak privacy protections because they remain totally optional. Keep an eye out for ORG’s upcoming new resource to help increase public awareness of the privacy risks of age verification technology.

ORG is hiring! Do you or someone you know have a knack for communications and a passion for digital rights? We looking for a new communications officer to join our London office. The deadline for applications is Monday 6 May. Find everything you need to know to apply here. 

Upcoming ORG events Find an ORG event near you on our events or local groups pages.

ORG Cambridge Monthly meetup Tuesday May 7 2019 7:00 PM to 8:30pm The Castle Inn 38 Castle Street, Cambridge CB3 0AJ https://www.meetup.com/ORG-Cambridge/events/260353140/?rv=me2

ORG Oxford Will social media regulation curtail free expression online? Wednesday 8 May 2019 6:30pm-8:00pm Makespace Oxford 1 Artistotle Ln, Oxford https://www.meetup.com/ORG-Oxford/events/260370121/

ORG Norwich Monthly meetup Monday, May 13, 2019 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Neontribe 21 Colegate, Norwich https://www.meetup.com/ORG-Norwich/events/260761107/

Corporate supporters We’d like to send a big thank you to Privacy Australia, our newest corporate supporter. We’d also like to thank Top10VPN, IVPN and Pyramid Wifi for renewing their support.

Thank you for helping to protect digital rights. Mike _______________

Mike Morel Campaigns Manager Open Rights Group