alt.hn

4/14/2026 at 9:18:24 AM

An open letter to the UK Government on digital privacy

 https://www.jimmyff.co.uk/blog/open-letter-uk-digital-privacy/

by vsajip

4/14/2026 at 1:46:21 PM

I keep thinking how laws rely way to much on hard coded values.

Privacy laws should really switch on and off depending on how much citizens trust their government. IOW I have no objection to even the most draconian spying if the voter trusts the government 100%.

Likewise, the amount of crime that could be prevented with a technology should also play a role. If there are 50 robberies per month in a street it is a good idea to plaster it with cameras, spin up a server and give law enforcement access 24/7. At 500 robberies you should also put guns on the cameras. For one every 1-5 years a patrol car is enough.

by econ

4/14/2026 at 1:36:03 PM

I appreciate the sentiment of the author. However, when it comes to politicians in the West, it's always better to assume malice over ignorance. These people know what they are doing. They simply goals and interests completely opposed to the common man. At the end, it's all about class. Hence why open letters to politicians are of very little use or effect.

by derelicta

4/14/2026 at 2:13:40 PM

Age restrictions are popular. Billion dollar corporations won't protect their users well-being if it means even a small drop in share price and exec bonuses, we know this from past behaviour.

I don't want my children's attention stolen and for them to be radicalised by social media. Yes, I am aware that parents need to put in work, which I do. But fighting against billion dollar corporations is a losing battle unless numbers are on your side.

The only way to the pendulum swings in favour of common people is with the help of government. I know is an unpopular opinion, but I trust a Labour government in the UK more than Meta and Tiktok, that's for sure.

If VPN providers are enabling age restrictions to be bypassed then sorry, either they play nice or they get blocked as well.

Everything else aside from age restrictions (and the accompanying social media ban) I am broadly sympathetic with, and I wouldn't deny age restrictions are being used as a way to get more access to private data that should be accepted.

If there was a way to pick out the overreach I would support that, but in general I will vote for age restrictions and social media bans.

by phatfish

4/14/2026 at 2:23:54 PM

This is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

"Meta bad, so government good" is an oversimplified model that will cause you to wake up and suddenly realize everything has changed for the worse anyway.

by ronsor