Graham Smith
@cyberleagle.bsky.social
IT and internet lawyer. Sceptical tech enthusiast. Reposts and links are not endorsements. All views my own. No posts are legal advice. www.cyberleagle.com
Reposted by Graham Smith
🆕Must-read analysis from our expert legal adviser, Prof Lorna Woods OBE, on #grok, criminal offences, the civil law and the #onlinesafetyact ⬇️ www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/gro...
Grok: criminal offences, the civil law and the Online Safety Act
This analysis by Prof Lorna Woods OBE looks at the use of Grok, X’s AI tool, to create non-consensual, sexually explicit images of women and girls, the possible criminal offences that users might comm...
www.onlinesafetyact.net
January 7, 2026 at 10:19 AM
🆕Must-read analysis from our expert legal adviser, Prof Lorna Woods OBE, on #grok, criminal offences, the civil law and the #onlinesafetyact ⬇️ www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/gro...
In case you switched off over the break, an Ofcom FOI response included this little nugget.
For students of the scope of the Online Safety Act and its impact on small forums, I was particularly struck by this (in Annex 4). 2/2
January 5, 2026 at 5:28 PM
In case you switched off over the break, an Ofcom FOI response included this little nugget.
Here I am trying to write a sensible piece about Ofcom, international law and territorial sovereignty, full of nuance about prescriptive and enforcement jurisdiction, and some fool goes and kidnaps a foreign head of state on their own soil.
January 3, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Here I am trying to write a sensible piece about Ofcom, international law and territorial sovereignty, full of nuance about prescriptive and enforcement jurisdiction, and some fool goes and kidnaps a foreign head of state on their own soil.
Reposted by Graham Smith
The FIFA Peace Prize doesn't mean what it used to
January 3, 2026 at 9:42 AM
The FIFA Peace Prize doesn't mean what it used to
Reposted by Graham Smith
Keeping my death certificate stored conveniently on my phone for when I need it
January 1, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Keeping my death certificate stored conveniently on my phone for when I need it
My 'FAQs a million' blogpost now updated in consequence. #OnlineSafetyAct www.cyberleagle.com/2025/09/faqs...
Yesterday, Ofcom at last published the small services FAQs document on its website. www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
January 1, 2026 at 8:27 PM
My 'FAQs a million' blogpost now updated in consequence. #OnlineSafetyAct www.cyberleagle.com/2025/09/faqs...
Reposted by Graham Smith
New Year’s Resolution: find something to blog about that isn’t the Online Safety Act. Sigh.
January 1, 2026 at 9:20 AM
New Year’s Resolution: find something to blog about that isn’t the Online Safety Act. Sigh.
New Year’s Resolution: find something to blog about that isn’t the Online Safety Act. Sigh.
January 1, 2026 at 9:20 AM
New Year’s Resolution: find something to blog about that isn’t the Online Safety Act. Sigh.
Reposted by Graham Smith
And now we can see that publication was precipitated by a FOI request. Scroll down to the final 2025 Online Safety response (and 8 annexes). For students of regulation, perhaps a mildly interesting insight into how regulatory agencies go about making decisions. 1/2 www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/...
Published responses to FOI requests
For transparency, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
www.ofcom.org.uk
December 29, 2025 at 5:33 PM
And now we can see that publication was precipitated by a FOI request. Scroll down to the final 2025 Online Safety response (and 8 annexes). For students of regulation, perhaps a mildly interesting insight into how regulatory agencies go about making decisions. 1/2 www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/...
Reposted by Graham Smith
Wrote about the State Department's made up censorial rationale for banning visas for some folks based on their speech. It's nonsense.
www.ms.now/opinion/marc...
www.ms.now/opinion/marc...
Opinion | Marco Rubio is using real censorship to fight fake censorship
Mike Masnick: In the name of protecting free speech, the U.S. government just banned five Europeans from entering the country because it doesn’t like their speech.
www.ms.now
December 27, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Wrote about the State Department's made up censorial rationale for banning visas for some folks based on their speech. It's nonsense.
www.ms.now/opinion/marc...
www.ms.now/opinion/marc...
Reposted by Graham Smith
This use of visa rules is undoubtedly deplorable. On your side, do you see democracy as in need of protection from Reason magazine, assessed by GDI (whose CEO is on the list) as high risk of disinformation? reason.com/2023/02/14/g...
December 24, 2025 at 5:02 PM
This use of visa rules is undoubtedly deplorable. On your side, do you see democracy as in need of protection from Reason magazine, assessed by GDI (whose CEO is on the list) as high risk of disinformation? reason.com/2023/02/14/g...
Reposted by Graham Smith
"Protecting democracy isn’t censorship. ✋🏼
Disinformation isn’t free speech."
It is, however, freedom of expression within the ambit of Art 10 ECHR. Any interference has to be prescribed by law (i.e. reasonably precisely), for a legitimate public purpose, necessary and proportionate. #JustSaying
Disinformation isn’t free speech."
It is, however, freedom of expression within the ambit of Art 10 ECHR. Any interference has to be prescribed by law (i.e. reasonably precisely), for a legitimate public purpose, necessary and proportionate. #JustSaying
December 24, 2025 at 5:29 PM
"Protecting democracy isn’t censorship. ✋🏼
Disinformation isn’t free speech."
It is, however, freedom of expression within the ambit of Art 10 ECHR. Any interference has to be prescribed by law (i.e. reasonably precisely), for a legitimate public purpose, necessary and proportionate. #JustSaying
Disinformation isn’t free speech."
It is, however, freedom of expression within the ambit of Art 10 ECHR. Any interference has to be prescribed by law (i.e. reasonably precisely), for a legitimate public purpose, necessary and proportionate. #JustSaying
Reposted by Graham Smith
If anyone thinks that Art 35 DSA is ‘rules-based’, I have a bridge to sell them. And of course the Commission will never be able to live down Breton’s infamous letter. All that said, using visa rules in this way is deplorable.
December 24, 2025 at 11:21 AM
If anyone thinks that Art 35 DSA is ‘rules-based’, I have a bridge to sell them. And of course the Commission will never be able to live down Breton’s infamous letter. All that said, using visa rules in this way is deplorable.
Reposted by Graham Smith
The rhetoric in support of the original Online Safety Bill routinely equated in-scope services with social media, but to see it in print in an actual amendment is a new low.
December 21, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The rhetoric in support of the original Online Safety Bill routinely equated in-scope services with social media, but to see it in print in an actual amendment is a new low.
Reposted by Graham Smith
Proposed amendment to the UK's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill would ban under 16s from "all regulated user-to-user services" – much broader than Aussie social media ban bills.parliament.uk/bills/3909/s...
HT Neil Brown's blog decoded.legal/blog/2025/12...
#censorship #openweb #techpolicy
HT Neil Brown's blog decoded.legal/blog/2025/12...
#censorship #openweb #techpolicy
December 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Proposed amendment to the UK's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill would ban under 16s from "all regulated user-to-user services" – much broader than Aussie social media ban bills.parliament.uk/bills/3909/s...
HT Neil Brown's blog decoded.legal/blog/2025/12...
#censorship #openweb #techpolicy
HT Neil Brown's blog decoded.legal/blog/2025/12...
#censorship #openweb #techpolicy
Reposted by Graham Smith
Ofcom have now published the Additional Measures consultation responses. #OnlineSafetyAct (scroll down to the bottom of the page) www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
New on my blog: Ofcom’s proactive technology measures: principles-based or vague? #OnlineSafetyAct
www.cyberleagle.com/2025/08/ofco...
www.cyberleagle.com/2025/08/ofco...
Ofcom’s proactive technology measures: principles-based or vague?
Ofcom has published its long-expected consultation on additional measures that it recommends U2U platforms and search engines should implem...
www.cyberleagle.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Ofcom have now published the Additional Measures consultation responses. #OnlineSafetyAct (scroll down to the bottom of the page) www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Ofcom have now published the Additional Measures consultation responses. #OnlineSafetyAct (scroll down to the bottom of the page) www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
New on my blog: Ofcom’s proactive technology measures: principles-based or vague? #OnlineSafetyAct
www.cyberleagle.com/2025/08/ofco...
www.cyberleagle.com/2025/08/ofco...
Ofcom’s proactive technology measures: principles-based or vague?
Ofcom has published its long-expected consultation on additional measures that it recommends U2U platforms and search engines should implem...
www.cyberleagle.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Ofcom have now published the Additional Measures consultation responses. #OnlineSafetyAct (scroll down to the bottom of the page) www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Reposted by Graham Smith
Interesting stuff, but more in the nature of bare policy advocacy than anything to do with the ECHR Art 10 right. www.coe.int/en/web/freed...
New Guidance Note on Generative AI Implications for Freedom of Expression
Strasbourg, France 4 December 2025
www.coe.int
December 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Interesting stuff, but more in the nature of bare policy advocacy than anything to do with the ECHR Art 10 right. www.coe.int/en/web/freed...
Reposted by Graham Smith
📘 The official edition of the “Preparatory Work” of the Convention is now available in digital format.
➡️ This fully searchable digital PDF has been made possible thanks to @degruyterbrill.bsky.social, which digitised all eight volumes free of charge.
www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/...
➡️ This fully searchable digital PDF has been made possible thanks to @degruyterbrill.bsky.social, which digitised all eight volumes free of charge.
www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/...
December 19, 2025 at 2:39 PM
📘 The official edition of the “Preparatory Work” of the Convention is now available in digital format.
➡️ This fully searchable digital PDF has been made possible thanks to @degruyterbrill.bsky.social, which digitised all eight volumes free of charge.
www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/...
➡️ This fully searchable digital PDF has been made possible thanks to @degruyterbrill.bsky.social, which digitised all eight volumes free of charge.
www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/...
Progress update from IPCO. www.ipco.org.uk/news/investi...
Investigation into the provision of false evidence to the High Court and Investigatory Powers Tribunal in relation to Agent X – Update - IPCO
www.ipco.org.uk
December 19, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Progress update from IPCO. www.ipco.org.uk/news/investi...
Interesting stuff, but more in the nature of bare policy advocacy than anything to do with the ECHR Art 10 right. www.coe.int/en/web/freed...
New Guidance Note on Generative AI Implications for Freedom of Expression
Strasbourg, France 4 December 2025
www.coe.int
December 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Interesting stuff, but more in the nature of bare policy advocacy than anything to do with the ECHR Art 10 right. www.coe.int/en/web/freed...
Reposted by Graham Smith
"The government signposts end-to-end encryption as a threat, but what they fail to consider is that breaking it would be a threat to our national security too." Our CEO @jemimahsteinfeld.bsky.social on the urgent need to protect end-to-end encryption:
www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
Creating apps like Signal or WhatsApp could be 'hostile activity,' claims UK watchdog
It's the latest blow to encryption in the UK
www.techradar.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:45 AM
"The government signposts end-to-end encryption as a threat, but what they fail to consider is that breaking it would be a threat to our national security too." Our CEO @jemimahsteinfeld.bsky.social on the urgent need to protect end-to-end encryption:
www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
Reposted by Graham Smith
#ECJ: The admissibility of an action for infringement of the #copyright of a collective work must ensure respect for the right to #effectivejudicialprotection, without making the procedure unnecessarily complex or costly 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo...
Communiqués de presse - Cour de justice de l'Union européenne
Court of Justice of the European Union
curia.europa.eu
December 18, 2025 at 8:59 AM
#ECJ: The admissibility of an action for infringement of the #copyright of a collective work must ensure respect for the right to #effectivejudicialprotection, without making the procedure unnecessarily complex or costly 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo...