Why did I do this now?
- The law came into force Jan, Ofcom has been unclear on when enforcement will begin. They've also implied that they might not give any advance warning, they could just start issuing fines. I can't risk a fine of £18 million (that, believe it or not, is the minimum fine lol)
@girlonthenet I've already seen at least one lovely community shut down because of this. It's all so bloody stupid (and won't "protect the children" anyway).
@Janeishly @girlonthenet Eurgh I need to figure out what I’m doing about my Mastodon instance before 15th March. I also funnily enough do not have a spare 18 million.
@sam @Janeishly @girlonthenet Do nothing. You really think you are at the head of their queue? It will be someone who does nothing and then fights it in court (by saying they are not in scope of the Act) that will actually define what it actually means. OK, that might not be you but it will be somebody.
@Black_Flag @sam @Janeishly this is harmful and potentially life-ruining advice unless you know for a fact that the person to whom you're giving it can afford to fight this in court (or afford the fines Ofcom can impose of £18 million). Better advice available here https://www.onlinesafetyact.co.uk
This is potentially liberatory advice. If Everyone pre-emptively obeys as you have chosen to then nothing changes and everyone cowers in the corner. If you haven't got 18 million they can't take 18 million anyway.
So if every other country does the same as the UK you'll just quietly apologise and close down your site? That's where this leads.
woof.group on here have been going through this too. They have chosen to carry on and argue they are not in scope.
@Black_Flag @sam @Janeishly you do not know me, or anything about my situation beyond what is public. I won't be scolded for not taking a risk that I have spent many months assessing and considering and agonising over, and it's extremely patronising of you to assume that I haven't considered these extremely basic things.
