And in other #OnlineSafetyAct news, Ofcom has today issued 4chan with a provisional notice of contravention:
Provisional Decision: Information Notice duties
In accordance with section 130 of the Online Safety Act 2023, we have today issued 4chan Community Support LLC with a provisional notice of contravention.
Ofcom is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing the provider has contravened its duties under section 102(8) of the Act to comply with two requests for information. We will consider any representations provided in response to this provisional notice before we make a final decision on this matter.
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/investigation-into-4chan-and-its-compliance-with-duties-to-protect-its-users-from-illegal-content
@neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk Speculation I know, but do you think — since the next logical step would be in the direction of site blocking orders — that starting with 4chan is a deliberate choice based on it being a site that people will find it extremely hard to defend as needing to remain unblocked?
@neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk This is crazy. This law has had more consequences than the initial law specified. Its like living in a nightmare.
The gist appears to be that 4chan did not respond at all, or as required, to requests for information.
@neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk Do ofcom know what they're taking on? Do we need popcorn?
@nav@mstdn.social @neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk Assuming 4chan have no assets or staff in the UK, they will presumably continue to ignore anything Ofcom says or does. And if it ends up with UK ISPs ultimately being ordered to block access, Pirate Bay style, well I won't shed many tears and I doubt 4chan will be terribly concerned either.
Neil Brown
