News

12 June, 2017

Conservative plans for Internet clampdown are a distraction

Executive Director Jim Killock said: “To push on with these extreme proposals for Internet clampdowns would appear to be a distraction from the current political situation and from effective measures against terror.

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12 May, 2017

FOI response reveals porn company’s proposals for UK to block millions of porn sites

MindGeek, who are also developing Age Verification technology, said that the Government’s plans to prevent children from seeing pornography would not be effective unless millions of sites could be blocked.

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10 May, 2017

Rights groups demand more transparency over Facebook’s ‘insights’ into young users

Facebook should immediately release all documents describing how it collected and analyzed psychological information it recently collected about its youngest users, some as young as 14, and college students, Public Citizen and a coalition of 25 groups said in a letter to the corporation today.

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05 May, 2017

Selective, secret consultations have no place in open Government

This is a ‘targeted consultation’ and has not been publicised to the tech industry or public.

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03 May, 2017

Law Commission’s ‘shoddy and confused’ proposals would threaten free speech in UK

In their own report, ORG condemns the proposals as, “shoddy and confused, contradictory, poorly researched, and ill-informed on public interest issues”.

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01 May, 2017

ORG response to Home Affairs Committee report on hate speech and Internet companies

Executive Director, Jim Killock said: “This report is very imbalanced.

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27 April, 2017

Parliament votes to put privacy in hands of porn companies

The Digital Economy Bill (DEBill) will require that porn sites verify the age of their users in order to prevent under 18s from viewing pornography.

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26 April, 2017

UK falls two places in World Press Freedom Index

Executive Director Jim Killock said: “Extensive surveillance powers are threatening investigative journalism and freedom of expression in the UK.

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21 April, 2017

Government must respond to CJEU ruling on surveillance

Executive Director Jim Killock said: “The government still hasn’t stated how it will respond to a CJEU ruling, which calls into question the legal basis for the current data retention regime.

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30 March, 2017

Campaigners call for transparency over Home Office meetings with tech companies

Rudd has asked for a meeting to discuss ways that companies can help the Government combat terrorism.

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28 March, 2017

Home Office breaching Cabinet Office guidelines over surveillance consultation argue campaigners

A group of lawyers, civil liberty groups and trade unions have written to the Home Secretary Amber Rudd to ask her to re-run her consultation into new Codes of Practice required under the Investigatory Powers Act.

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26 March, 2017

ORG responds to Amber Rudd’s comments on WhatsApp and encrypted communications

Rudd made the comments on the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme.

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20 March, 2017

Home Office tender suggests Government has accepted CJEU ruling on independent authorisation for retained data

The invitation acknowledges a 2016 judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU or ECJ), stating that: “The ECJ has recently upheld an appeal which challenges the current UK communications data retention and acquisition regime.

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16 March, 2017

Scottish Government drops controversial ID database proposals

Open Rights Group welcomes the Scottish Government’s decision to drop proposals that would have paved the way for a national ID register in Scotland.

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14 February, 2017

Digital Economy Bill could make UK citizens vulnerable to blackmail

Proposals in the Digital Economy Bill would mean that anyone found guilty of online copyright infringement could now get up to ten years in prison.

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13 February, 2017

Espionage law would criminalise journalists

Reacting to the consultation to create a new “Espionage Act”, Jim Killock, Executive Director of the Open Rights Group said: “This is a full frontal attack on journalism, recommending criminalising even examining at secret services’ material.

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25 January, 2017

Stop Trump getting our data

Open Rights Group has called on the Prime Minister to ensure that the UK is not complicit with human rights abuses if President Trump keeps his promises to reinstate waterboarding and torture.

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21 December, 2016

Parliament must change the Investigatory Powers Act in response to CJEU ruling

The judgment relates to a case brought by Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Tom Watson MP, over intrusive data retention powers.

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15 December, 2016

Government admits that Twitter could be forced to block accounts for UK users

Please sign the petition against these proposals Proposals in the Digital Economy Bill will allow the BBFC to compel Internet Service Providers to block websites that don’t comply with age verification.

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29 November, 2016

Investigatory Powers Act is UK’s most extreme surveillance law

Executive Director Jim Killock said: “Amber Rudd says the Investigatory Powers Act is world-leading legislation.

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29 November, 2016

MPs vote for a national censor

Amendments to the Digital Economy Bill were accepted by MPs during its third reading yesterday.

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27 November, 2016

Petition means that parliament must consider IP Bill debate

Executive Director Jim Killock said: “The IP Bill was debated and passed while the public, media and politicians were preoccupied by Brexit.

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25 November, 2016

Know your rights when it comes to e-receipts on Black Friday

As well as encouraging shoppers to assert their legal rights, ORG is calling on shops to make sure they are not breaking the UK’s data protection laws.

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24 November, 2016

Government departments could share personal health and financial data with energy companies

Proposals in the Digital Economy Bill could see private energy companies being given personal data, including information about UK citizens’ health, housing and finances.

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17 November, 2016

The Investigatory Powers Bill’s impact will reach beyond the UK

Executive Director Jim Killock responded: “The passing of the IP Bill will have an impact that goes beyond the UK’s shores.

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09 November, 2016

Open Rights Group responds to US election results

Executive Director Jim Killock said: “The US election has massive implications for the British public as both countries’ intelligence agencies are so closely integrated.

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03 November, 2016

MPs propose web blocking for porn sites

Executive Director Jim Killock said: “Perhaps these MPs have realised that plans to make all adult websites apply age verification are unworkable as foreign porn sites may simply not comply.

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02 November, 2016

Facebook is right to stop Admiral insurance from using its data

Executive Director Jim Killock said “We need to think about the wider consequences of allowing companies to make decisions that affect us financially or otherwise, based on what we have said on social media.

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01 November, 2016

Investigatory Powers Bill threatens the British public’s right to privacy

Open Rights Group’s Executive Director, Jim Killock, responded: “The UK is one step closer to having one of the most extreme surveillance laws ever passed in a democracy.

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14 September, 2016

Copyright reform fails EU citizens in favour of industry

Executive Director Jim Killock said: “Thousands of EU citizens responded to the consultation on copyright, only for the Commission to ignore their concerns in favour of industry.

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13 September, 2016

Digital Economy Bill could lead to Ashley Madison style data breaches

Age verification for porn sites The DEB includes plans to oblige porn websites to set up age verification to prevent under 18s from seeing adult content.

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19 August, 2016

ORG responds to David Anderson’s review of bulk surveillance

Policy Director of the Open Rights Group, Javier Ruiz, responded: “The review presents only one side of the story, the utility of such powers to the state.

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19 July, 2016

ORG responds to CJEU Opinion into data retention

In today’s Opinion, the Advocate General said that data retention may be compatible with EU law only if data is being retained to fight serious crime and if there are strict safeguards in place.

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14 July, 2016

Microsoft win is a victory for privacy rights

The US government attempted to use a search warrant to access the data, instead of relying upon the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) agreed between the US and the EU and the US and Ireland.

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06 July, 2016

Open Rights Group response to Digital Economy Bill

The Bill includes welcome proposals that mean UK homes and businesses have a right to access Broadband.

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27 June, 2016

Investigatory Powers Bill should be put on hold following Brexit fall out

Digital rights campaigners, the Open Rights Group have called on the Government to stop the progression of the Investigatory Powers Bill (IP Bill) through Parliament.

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07 June, 2016

Open Rights Group urges MPs to vote against the IPBill if bulk powers remain

Executive Director, Jim Killock said: “The Government is intent on pressing ahead with the IP Bill even though it will give the UK an extreme surveillance law unsuited to a democracy.

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06 June, 2016

ORG Snoopers’ Charter public toilet highlights importance of privacy

With the click of a button, the walls of the toilet turned transparent, exposing those inside.

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31 May, 2016

ORG calls on public to post pics to save Freedom of Panorama

Freedom of Panorama is the right that allows us to take photos of public buildings like the Shard, the Angel of the North or the Scottish parliament without asking the artist or the architect for permission.

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23 May, 2016

Waterstones customers lose out from DRM

Jim Killock, Executive Director of the Open Rights Group said: “This shows how vulnerable customers are when their digital content is locked up by so-called ‘Digital Rights Management’.

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25 April, 2016

Theresa May has to answer to the ECtHR

Executive Director Jim Killock said: “Theresa May will be defending mass surveillance in the ECtHR over the next weeks, as they examine what we have learnt about huge programmes gathering everyone’s data.

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22 April, 2016

Ten year copyright jail terms

Reacting to Baroness Neville Rolfe’s announcement that the government would proceed with ten year sentences for online copyright infringement, Jim Killock said: “We note that the minister has committed to narrowing the scope of the offence.

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12 April, 2016

CJEU hearing could find IPBill incompatible with EU law

The CJEU has been asked to explain its April 2014 Judgment in a case brought by Digital Rights Ireland, which ruled blanket data retention severely interfered with rights to respect for private life and the protection of personal data.

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15 March, 2016

ORG urges MPs to oppose the Investigatory Powers Bill

Executive Director, Jim Killock said: “MPs of any political party who value democracy must resist the Government’s attempts to rush the Investigatory Powers Bill through Parliament.

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14 March, 2016

Renowned lawyer Myles Jackman appointed Legal Director for Open Rights Group

Myles was awarded the Law Society’s Junior Lawyer of the Year award in 2012 having represented Michael Peacock and Simon Walsh in their landmark obscenity prosecutions, the #ObscenityTrial and the #PornTrial.

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09 March, 2016

Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy condemns Investigatory Powers Bill

The Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy has heavily criticised the Investigatory Powers Bill in his first report to the Human Rights Council.

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01 March, 2016

Stop rushing the Investigatory Powers Bill through Parliament

Executive Director Jim Killock said:“The Home Office is treating the British public with contempt if it thinks it’s acceptable to rush a Bill of this magnitude through Parliament.

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11 February, 2016

ORG responds to the Joint Committee report into Investigatory Powers Bill

The Joint Committee has published its report into the draft Investigatory Powers Bill.

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09 February, 2016

ORG responds to the Intelligence and Security Committee report into the Investigatory Powers Bill

Open Rights Group welcomes the Intelligence and Security Committee’s report into the Investigatory Powers Bill.

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01 February, 2016

ORG responds to the Science and Technology Committee’s report on the Investigatory Powers Bill

Jim Killock, Executive Director of Open Rights Group said: “David Cameron needs to consider whether he wants to be the Conservative PM that jeopardised the success of the UK tech industry.

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04 November, 2015

ORG response to the draft Investigatory Powers Bill

Executive Director of Open Rights Group, Jim Killock said: “This Bill will redefine the relationship between the state and the public for a generation.

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28 October, 2015

ORG response to David Cameron’s call for web filter law

Jim Killock, Executive Director of Open Rights Group (ORG) said: “We welcome the opportunity to have a debate about filters, which are flawed, censor websites and do not necessarily keep children safe online.

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27 October, 2015

EU Parliament adopts highly ambiguous Net Neutrality legislation

Unfortunately, MEPs have created large loopholes and left ambiguity in much of the legislation.

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14 October, 2015

IPT ruling on Wilson doctrine opens way for devolved parliament and assemblies to challenge surveillance

In response, Open Rights Group’s Executive Director, Jim Killock said: “Bulk interception means that everyone’s personal communications data can be collected.

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06 October, 2015

Open Rights Group welcomes CJEU Safe Harbor ruling

Executive Director, Jim Killock said: “In the face of the Snowden revelations, it is clear that Safe Harbor is not worth the paper its written on.

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17 September, 2015

Dropping Privacy and Civil Liberties Board highlights need for judicial authorisation

Policy Director, Javier Ruiz said: “While Open Rights Group did not feel the proposals for a Privacy and Civil Liberties Board went far enough, its removal highlights the need for more, not less, input from civil society on the reform of surveillance oversight.

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02 September, 2015

HIV clinic data breach

“Incidents like this are all too common and harmful.

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06 August, 2015

10 years for copyright infringement should be limited to criminals causing serious harm

ORG agrees with the IPO that the online environment should not confer less protection for copyright holders.

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30 July, 2015

David Cameron calls to shut down porn sites without age-restricted controls

Executive Director, Jim Killock said: “While the government can shut down UK-based sites, these are few in number and represent a tiny proportion of the global porn industry.

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17 July, 2015

High Court rules that DRIPA is unlawful

ORG intervened in the successful judicial review brought by David Davis MP and Tom Watson MP, who were represented by Liberty.

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14 July, 2015

ORG response to the RUSI review

ORG’s Executive Director Jim Killock said: “We’re unsurprised that RUSI has condoned mass surveillance, which now seems to be termed ‘bulk collection’ to disguise the real and disturbing practices of blanket collection, trawling and analysing that create a regime of mass surveillance.

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16 April, 2015

Open Rights Group files amicus brief in Hungarian data retention case

Open Rights Group, Privacy International and a group of internationally acknowledged experts have filed amicus curiae briefs with the Hungarian Constitutional Court.

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12 March, 2015

Open Rights Group response to ISC Privacy and Security report

Open Rights Group has responded to the Intelligence and Security Committee’s report into Security and Privacy.

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19 February, 2015

Swinney fails to address privacy concerns over Scottish NHS database proposals

Deputy First Minister John Swinney today failed to address the concerns of privacy campaigners over Scottish government proposals to expand Scotland’s NHS Central Register.

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11 February, 2015

NHS database proposals could pave way to ID register in Scotland

Government proposals to expand the National Health Service Central Register (NHSCR) will pave the way for a national ID register in Scotland.

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06 February, 2015

ORG’s response to IPT ruling that UK intelligence sharing was unlawful

Today the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) found that the secret intelligence sharing between the UK and the US were unlawful prior to December 2014 because the policies governing these arrangements were secret.

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13 January, 2015

ORG responds to Cameron’s call for legal powers to break encryption

Open Rights Group has called on the Prime Minister to provide more details about his plans to give the security services the legal powers to break encrypted communications.

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08 December, 2014

Press release: Permission granted for judicial review of DRIPA

A judicial review of the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIPA) has been granted permission by Mr Justice Lewis in the High Court today.

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26 November, 2014

Open Rights Group response to the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill

Executive Director, Jim Killock said: “Despite the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling that blanket data retention interferes with our right to privacy, the government is expanding the amount of personal information that companies are forced to keep.

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25 November, 2014

ISC report into Lee Rigby’s murder is misleading

Reacting to today’s ISC report, the Open Rights Group said that their report into Lee Rigby’s murder is misleading.

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20 November, 2014

Tech companies must come clean about their role in enabling blanket surveillance

Open Rights Group has responded to a report by Channel 4 News that Cable & Wireless allowed GCHQ to scoop up the private communications of millions of people around the world.

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16 November, 2014

ORG calls for political parties to state their position on surveillance

At their annual conference, ORGCon14, Open Rights Group (ORG) have called on politicians to address surveillance by the police and security services in their manifestos for May’s General Election.

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14 November, 2014

ORG response to extremist sites being blocked by ISP web filters

Open Rights Group has responded to the announcement that ISPs will add extremist websites to filters designed to protect children from seeing adult content.

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06 November, 2014

Open Rights Group: RIPA not fit for purpose

Further evidence that the Regulatory of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) is being used to violate the rights of UK citizens was exposed today.

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03 November, 2014

Open Rights Group response to GCHQ Director’s claim that tech companies are aiding terrorists

Open Rights Group has responded to an FT comment piece by the Director of GCHQ, Robert Hannigan, in which he calls for “greater co-operation from technology companies’, who are in his words, “the command and control networks of choice” for terrorists.

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17 October, 2014

Judgment recognises Open Rights Group’s intervention in landmark website blocking case

 Open Rights Group’s (ORG) intervention had a significant impact on a landmark case about internet trade mark infringement that was handed down today by the High Court in London.

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07 October, 2014

ORG responds to calls by National Crime Agency for greater surveillance powers

Executive Director Jim Killock said: ‘Open Rights Group welcomes any public debate about the surveillance of our personal communications by the police and intelligence services but so far the government seems intent on simply increasing its powers to allow unchecked whole population profiling.

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02 October, 2014

ORG responds to Conservative’s UK Bill of Rights proposal

Open Rights Group has responded to proposals for a UK Bill of Rights, published today by lawyer and journalist David Allen Green on his blog here:http://jackofkent.

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01 October, 2014

Copyright exceptions for parody and format shifting become law

After nine years of campaigning, Open Rights Group is delighted that copyright exceptions for parody and format shifting have passed into law.

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30 September, 2014

ORG responds to calls by Theresa May for new communications data bill

Open Rights Group has responded to the Home Secretary, Theresa May’s call for a revival of the snoopers’ charter to give the police greater powers to access communications data.

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25 September, 2014

Trade mark case could set a precedent for website blocking  

For the first time ISPs are being asked to block websites on the basis of alleged trade mark (rather than copyright) infringement.

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07 July, 2014

Threat of legal action not terrorism behind calls for emergency data retention legislation

Open Rights Group (ORG) has responded to government calls for emergency legislation that would require ISPs and telecoms companies to keep records of our phone calls, texts and internet usage as ‘spin’.

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02 July, 2014

ORG’s Blocked project finds almost 1 in 5 sites are blocked by filters

Open Rights Group Blocked project finds almost 1 in 5 websites tested are blocked by web filters High level of variation between ISPs suggest filters are not consistent in protecting children Overblocking is affecting bloggers, businesses and web users  A Porsche broker, a political blogger and a mum hoping to read an article about post pregnancy care are among those that have been affected by filters designed to protect young people from adult content.

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23 June, 2014

Customers demand action from ISPs over data retention

As a result of an Open Rights Group campaign, over 1300 customers have written to their internet service providers (ISPs) to ask why they are still retaining their web, email, SMS and phone data.

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