Vocal Voices

Just to let you all know, we might have to make some minor changes to the site, to comply with the new Online Safety Act that comes into force in March. Ossie drew my attention to it, there is a post on Feedback to read.

Basically we (that is Mick) have to plough through reams of stuff on an Ofcom site, fill in the forms and submit them before March 16th. He's also got to do a risk assessment, and he's already started the process.

We should be ok as we're such a small website, but all websites and fora with user-to-user contact have to comply. They are really going after porn sites, self-harming groups, and terrorist activity, etc so they won't be coming after us, but just so you're aware.

The whole thing looks a bit of a bureaucratic nightmare - multiple compliance and risk assessments. So very well done to Mick and yourself for getting to grips with the online "paperwork".

I'm suprised there hasn't been more general publicity about the Act and the various deadlines - I suspect there's going to be quite a few forum admins burning the midnight oil!

TheOstrich wrote:
I'm suprised there hasn't been more general publicity about the Act and the various deadlines - I suspect there's going to be quite a few forum admins burning the midnight oil!

There definitely should be more publicity Ossie - I wouldn't have known anything about it but for your post! Sincere thanks from myself, and dear patient Mick

I feel for you. This is very much a tightening of control. You will be monitored now. I try to be relatively careful about what I say. I shall be more so. The English language is a wonderful tool for saying things without saying things.

But there have bee a large number of visitations on journalists and so called "influencers" in recent months. Mostly unreported in much of the press and media.

It is not a good look and I keep an eye on this stuff.

I do not envy Mick the vast amount of paperwork he is going to have to go through. Nor the likely implications of what they are doing. It is one of the reasons that I am an old grump about birthdays. You share your birthday, even if you don't write the date down and you have just shared PII, Personally Identifying Information with the site. That makes your life and Mick's harder.

Good luck with it.

Thanks Suff. I think we’re lucky that Mick has the background he has, so is able to do this. I have no idea how some others might manage