Path: ...!weretis.net!feeder9.news.weretis.net!news.nk.ca!rocksolid2!i2pn2.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail From: Retro Guy Newsgroups: news.software.readers Subject: Re: Newsgrouper Update Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:20:18 -0700 Organization: Rocksolid Light Message-ID: References: <1729782469-7@newsgrouper.org.uk> <1739546063-7@newsgrouper.org> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Injection-Info: i2pn2.org; logging-data="74663"; mail-complaints-to="usenet@i2pn2.org"; posting-account="PGd4t4cXnWwgUWG9VtTiCsm47oOWbHLcTr4rYoM0Edo"; User-Agent: 40tude_Dialog/2.0.15.41 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 4.0.0 Bytes: 4240 Lines: 62 On Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:17:38 -0000 (UTC), rek2 hispagatos wrote: > On 2025-02-14, Colin Macleod wrote: >> Sorry, but I've now decided I need to block access to Newsgrouper from the >> UK, starting 16th March. This is because I find it impractical to meet the >> requirements of the UK's Online Safety Act, which comes into effect then. >> See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety and https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk >> >> I've done a fair bit more homework on this, reading some of the guidance, >> but not all the thousands of pages that Ofcom has produced, and following >> their online seminars. Unfortunately very many aspects remain vague, and >> requests to Ofcom to provide clearer guidelines get answers like "It depends >> on your circumstances", "We can't advise individual sites", "You have to >> make the judgement", etc.. >> >> I'm afraid my conclusion is that trying to comply with the OSA is just too >> much effort. It's not just the initial risk assessments and policy/system >> changes. It's also that one is then required to respond to any reports that >> come in and judge whether that content is really illegal. You are required >> to remove anything that *is* illegal under a long list of categories, but >> also to protect users' right to freedom of speech. It's easy to think of >> cases where this balance could be very tricky. I simply don't want to get >> into the business of having to police other people's speech. >> >> Ofcom have stated unequivocally that geo-blocking the UK will put a site >> outside the scope of the Act. So I put up a simple survey on the newsgrouper >> site, this appeared for UK users only, and I let it run for two weeks. >> There was just one question and a space for comments. I got 11 responses, >> as follows: >> >> How would a UK block affect you? Answers >> 1: Not Concerned, I can follow Usenet by other means. 1 >> 2: An Annoyance, but not the end of the world. 5 >> 3: Oh No, that would be a disaster! 5 >> >> The comments were generally disappointed, but some also expressed >> understanding. So blocking UK access would be a real inconvenience to >> 5 people. I regret that, but they may be able to use one of the other web >> interfaces to Usenet, see: >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web-based_Usenet#Web-based_sites_and_popularity >> Also UK people are only about 15% of my users now. >> >> I have seen comments that having a .uk address is enough to bring a site >> into the scope of the act. I'm not convinced about that, but to be on the >> safe side I have reregistered my site as newsgrouper.org with a redirect >> from newsgrouper.org.uk . >> >> My software is available at: >> https://chiselapp.com/user/cmacleod/repository/newsgrouper/home >> so if anyone else wants to take on the job of running an instance that would >> remain open to UK users, they are welcome to do so. >> > > > Can't you host on a non 8 eyes country? and have the few in the uk > using it use tor/vpn? you could also give http access on tor/i2p >:shrugs: This is simple to do. You don't even need Tor or I2P running on the same machine as the web server (but for I2P it's better if you do). Although I much prefer I2P (I'm not really a Tor fan), Tor is probably much easier for users.