Britain has enacted an internet censorship law that will change the life of every user. The Online Safety Act came into effect on July 25 — a law officially aimed at 'protecting children online,' but in fact turning the country into a digital police state.
The end of anonymity: passport required to access websites
Now all 18+ content is available only after presenting documents or biometric verification. Websites are required to implement 'reliable age verification' — passport, driver's license, bank details, or facial scanning. Violations face multi-million fines and complete blocking.
Pornhub, XVideos, and xHamster have already blocked British users. Reddit and Discord have restricted access to some content without documents. Xbox now requires a passport to download 18+ games and participate in chats. Sony, Steam, and Valve have announced similar measures.
Surveillance of private messages
The law requires platforms to filter 'harmful content' even in private chats. Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal are at risk. Telegram is already introducing biometric identification in England.
The government has gained the right to demand access to encrypted messages. WhatsApp, Signal, and even Apple and Meta threaten to leave the British market, as enforcing the law would mean destroying encryption and user privacy.
Censorship goes beyond pornography
Restrictions have affected content that is not related to child safety at all. Now materials about social unrest and military conflicts, negative reviews of government agencies and international organizations are under a ban or strict control.
Even artistic works touching on psychological themes can be deemed 'harmful'. Wikipedia is already facing demands to restrict access to articles with 'dangerous content'. Alternative viewpoints on political events and unofficial versions of occurrences are also at risk.
YouTube has started automatically deleting or hiding videos on 'sensitive topics'. Footage of protests is already disappearing from the platforms. Even X (formerly Twitter) quietly removes content — not by choice, but due to the threat of colossal fines.
VPNs are equated to violations of the law
Using VPNs, Tor, and other means to bypass restrictions is now considered a violation if they are used to access 'prohibited' content. Labour MP Sarah Champion is promoting amendment 54, which will completely ban VPNs.
Authorities don't just want to control your online actions — they aim to eliminate the possibility of evasion.
Who is affected by the new law
Almost all major platforms have been hit:
YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, Twitter/X
Wikipedia, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive
Gaming platforms Roblox, Fortnite, Meta Horizon Worlds
Some applications are forced to implement invasive scanning tools. VR headsets might start recording private conversations in the room.
Protests from experts and international reaction
Mainstream media hardly covers what is happening. The reason is simple: journalists criticizing the law risk losing their broadcasting licenses. Instead of critical analysis, the media broadcasts the official narrative of 'protecting children'.
Amnesty International, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Index on Censorship are sounding the alarm. The European Court of Human Rights has declared parts of the law undemocratic and violating civil liberties. Wikipedia has sued the British government, accusing it of overreach.
Elon Musk has called the law a tool of 'suppression', not safety. The use of VPNs in the country has sharply increased — citizens are trying to protect themselves.
Global consequences
The law creates an international precedent. If this is possible in Britain — a country with democratic traditions, then similar measures may arise anywhere. It's not about child safety, but about:
Normalization of surveillance
Suppression of dissent
Centralized control over speech
Destruction of anonymity
The Online Safety Act has turned a significant part of the internet into a controlled space where privacy, freedom of speech, and access to information are under government supervision.
Britain has shown the world how quickly democracy can turn into digital authoritarianism. The question now is whether other countries will follow this example or find ways to protect the digital rights of citizens.
