Snooping government new policy to monitor your messages.

paddyann54

“Old frill” 50 police officers resigned from POLICE SCOTLAND over the arrests of people supporting I heard this from a friend in the police

Do you have more information because that is anecdotal.

All I could find was a report that nearly 50 police officers in Scotland had resigned before misconduct proceedings could be carried out against them.
If an officer leaves Police Scotland, any active misconduct proceedings are automatically dropped, but in England and Wales proceedings continue even if an officer leaves their post.
The National

“Old frill” 50 police officers resigned from POLICE SCOTLAND over the arrests of people supporting I heard this from a friend in the police

I did see that story at the time. The woman had been asked several times to stop feeding the pigeons as it was becoming a health hazard. People who used that area had complained about the mess.

I remember that, and it was an over-reaction to encouraging vermin, littering and refusing to comply with instructions, but 'lifted off the streets'? She got a fixed penalty notice that cost her £100.

Doodledog

Can you link to a credible source for the allegation that people are being 'lifted off the streets' for feeding pigeons, please?

There were arrests for lies and incitement to violence on SM during riots, but 'lifting people off the streets' is a new one on my, particularly for feeding pigeons😳. I'd be very interested to see where this has been reported.

This is the woman arrested.

www.standard.co.uk/news/london/woman-handcuffed-and-fined-ps100-by-police-for-feeding-pigeons-in-london-b1265867.html

Should read reclaimthenet.org - only one full stop sorry.

Reclaimthenet.org uses ReclaimTheNetHQ - as it's username on X (previously twitter) the info SueInKent gave and the attachment, originated from this organisation on X and relates to their article (link shared above).

Reclaim.theNet.org posted an article re UK government surveillance of phones last December.

UK Lawmakers Push Device Surveillance & VPN Age Checks share.google/zFiOaIoNaRIDfVNCr

SueinKent has been an active member of Gransnet for at least 6 months

Are you sure this isn't just the Chat GPT stuff.
That's what I read.

Cross posts Allira.

Again, thanks for your research LemonJam.
Just want to add that I have seen the OP on other Threads, but not frequently.
Maybe having a busy Sunday?

That's fine I couldn't find any in the search space, yes a return would help.

I'm not mistaken,
Sueinkent posted on a few threads in 2025.

Perhaps she'll come back and let us know what she thinks.

LemonJam

David49 14.45 👍

By the by, as Sueinkent has not responded to any questions, have tried to find out more about Reclaim The Net UK and it doesn't exist.

ReclaimTheNet.org is a US company. Its aim is to "Fight censorship and surveillance. Reclaim your digital freedom." It has a very opaque website with no information whatsoever about directors or owners or location etc. Appears politically motivated seemingly showing favour to far right wing countries/parties. Reports on global efforts regarding online safety efforts.

Having said that it was the Conservative Party that proposed the Online Safety Act originally in UK in 2021 and was given Royal Assent in 2023.

Thanks for the research LemonJam. We have to work at knowing these things if we are to get best use out of the technological advances while stopping criminal behaviour.

Wyllow3

Given that I can find no previous posts by "Sueinkent",

although I do apologise, if I'm wrong,

*it could be an advertising flyer for ReclaimTheNetUK planted into gransnet, so wise to note*

Interesting.

I did think I'd seen the username before but could be mistaken.

Wyllow3 16.15 👍 I agree

Given that I can find no previous posts by "Sueinkent",

although I do apologise, if I'm wrong,

it could be an advertising flyer for ReclaimTheNetUK planted into gransnet, so wise to note

David49

The tech companies could stop much of the illegal use of technology but that would hit their profits, they are making £ billions but not taking responsibility.

👍

They have a lot to answer for.

Allira

DaisyAnneReturns

nanna8

The British government is just as bad with all their CCTV and jailing people for social media comments. Pot kettle black.

Could you support thst with facts - ones that can be fact checked? I doubt it.

Easy to Google and find out that there are several arrests daily for posts of varying kinds on social media, some resulting in jail sentences.

Many are terrorism related. Others are considered to be racist or hate speech.

If it’s easy to Google, could you share a couple of concrete examples or sources?

“Several arrests daily” is a specific claim, but without dates, jurisdictions, or figures it’s hard to verify or discuss meaningfully.

It's a bit repetitious, I know but these are the facts re the OP. Ofcom is not currently scanning everyone’s private encrypted chats on phones before they’re sent.

Real: The UK Online Safety Act expands Ofcom’s powers and could, in theory, be used to push platforms toward scanning certain private communications for illegal material.

Fake/misleading: The idea that Ofcom is already checking every encrypted message you send on your phone before it’s encrypted. That is not happening.

Don't believe everything you read.

Riiight. So the Tories bring in an act which allows criminals' online activity to be monitored, and a US company with dubious credentials is used to explain to us all how the new (Labour) government is snooping on us, and this is backed up with the as yet unverified idea that people are being 'lifted off the streets' for feeding pigeons?

Meanwhile, we are treated to vague comments about how 'some' read and hear what they want to, which I'm guessing from the previous posts of the person saying it is another dig at Labour, but can't be sure as the post itself is clear as mud.

So that's cleared that up

I would happily submit my texts and other online activity to the police if it would help get a conviction, but I don't want to see all communication routinely screened, particularly if they are stored for future use. It may be that what we are all doing and saying is perfectly legal and acceptable now, but a change of government could change all that in a heartbeat. 'Nothing to hide, nothing to fear' is a very shortsighted POV, in my opinion.

David49 14.45 👍

By the by, as Sueinkent has not responded to any questions, have tried to find out more about Reclaim The Net UK and it doesn't exist.

ReclaimTheNet.org is a US company. Its aim is to "Fight censorship and surveillance. Reclaim your digital freedom." It has a very opaque website with no information whatsoever about directors or owners or location etc. Appears politically motivated seemingly showing favour to far right wing countries/parties. Reports on global efforts regarding online safety efforts.

Having said that it was the Conservative Party that proposed the Online Safety Act originally in UK in 2021 and was given Royal Assent in 2023.

The tech companies could stop much of the illegal use of technology but that would hit their profits, they are making £ billions but not taking responsibility.

I think ReclaimTheNetUK may be funded by the tech industry, with vested interests.

In the UK free speech is a fundamental right under the Human Rights Act, allowing people to hold, receive and share ideas and information freely. The right is balanced with responsibilities that can be restricted by law for things like national security, public order, health, reputation, preventing hate speech, preventing disclosure of confidential information or incitement to crime, or harms others.

The balance of rights against responsibilities of free speech is perhaps a separate post of interest.

Freedom of Speech is the main argument put forward by tech companies to avoid their duties to moderate their criminal online platform activity, to deflect from the key issues.

Allowing criminals completely free, anonymous, unfettered access online is already placing the public at huge risk, particularly children . That risk is growing. The risk places ever increasing pressure on the resources and ability of law enforcement agencies to protect the public .

What alternative suggestions to the Online Safety Act would its detractors suggest?