Clean Up the Internet

Independent, UK-based organisation concerned about the degradation in online discourse and its implications for democracy.

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

With the #OnlineSafetyBill finally completing its passage through parliament this week, Clean Up The Internet's founder @Kinsellas shares some reflections on how we got here.

https://t.co/K0TtXPnpJl

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

"Sorting out social media is one of the urgent challenges of our age, and plodding regulatory conservatism isn’t good enough."

Spot on from @c_blackhurst in the @Independent

https://t.co/avH6JeNxzb

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Clean Up The Internet's founder, @Kinsellas, sets out why Ofcom's Illegal Content Codes are extremely disappointing - and why it makes no sense to delay user verification measures to tackle risks from fake and anonymous accounts

https://t.co/BdNXOcDv5z

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Looking forward to taking part in UK Finance's Economic Crime Congress tomorrow! CUTI founder @Kinsellas will be chairing a session on "mitigating the harms online" with panellists from @Ofcom, @UKFtweets, @LloydsBank , and @lukejcr

https://t.co/ctTMraF6yw

[Andy Burrows @_andyburrows]

Important and welcome move from @peterkyle to quickly use his powers under the #OnlineSafetyAct to set ambitious new strategic priorities for @Ofcom. This is only a downpayment on what’s ultimately needed, but note the shifting language on laws ‘coming up short.’

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Our submission to Ofcom's OSA transparency consultation sets out why Ofcom should require detailed and specific information from social media platforms re fake and anonymous accounts - and makes some suggestions for what that information should include:

https://t.co/oIdQQG1iFH

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

We then make some suggestions for action that the Uk government, and Ofcom, should take to dismantle these "rocket boosters" in the future.

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

New report: "Rocket boosters for extremism - how social media fuelled recent far-right disorder in the UK, and some suggestions for how to prevent similar
occurrences in the future"
https://t.co/8kbaJQBDTF

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Last month, Home Secretary @YvetteCooperMP described Social Media as acting as a "rocket booster" for the far-right. In this report we analyse how these "rocket boosters" work, and the main design features of social media platforms which extremists make use of.

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Clean Up The Internet's founder @Kinsellas sets out how tackling harm from fake and anonymous social media accounts would contribute to several of the new Labour Government priority "missions" - and why failing to could create obstacles to delivery.
https://t.co/V5d3BWObmp

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Brilliant guest post from @deathtospinach, author of "Keanu Reeves is not in love with you" and scourge of romance fraudsters - explaining why fraudsters love fake social media accounts, and why the platforms (and @ofcom) must do more to stop them
https://t.co/Ag7uDbtM4N

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Platforms aren’t doing any of these things themselves. Becky notes that under the OSA Ofcom has new powers to force them. But it's taking too long. And there's a risk of a "mind-boggling fail" in Ofcom's approach: leaving out dating sites

[Stephen Kinsella @Kinsellas]

It's a real coup for us at @InternetClean to get a guest post from @deathtospinach
You can imagine how long it took us to persuade her that we are legit.....

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

So Becky concludes by "removing my dainty satin glove and striking Ofcom, the government and social media platforms across their faces and saying “Sirs. I challenge you to pull your fingers out and take some of the burden of fraud away from the victims. And get a bloody move on.”

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Platforms aren’t doing any of these things themselves. Becky notes that under the OSA Ofcom has new powers to force them. But it's taking too long. And there's a risk of a "mind-boggling fail" in Ofcom's approach: leaving out dating sites

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

She points out that there are "some pretty straightforward steps which platforms could be taking to make it harder for people to use fake accounts to commit fraud" - including giving users options to verify their identity and ways to spot and avoid non-verified accounts

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Brilliant guest post from @deathtospinach, author of "Keanu Reeves is not in love with you" and scourge of romance fraudsters - explaining why fraudsters love fake social media accounts, and why the platforms (and @ofcom) must do more to stop them
https://t.co/Ag7uDbtM4N

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

Becky sets out why fake accounts are such a key tool for scammers, allowing them to target and deceive their victims, and then disappear without a trace. And she asks: "why do social media platforms make it so damn easy for scammers to do whatever the hell they like?"

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

"Without sufficiently clear and robust guidance, we fear more of the same delay, obfuscation, platitudes and half-measures which have characterised platforms’ (in)action to date."

@Kinsellas's recommendations for Ofcom's user verification guidance 👇

https://t.co/UAIhnKgOKt

[Stephen Kinsella @Kinsellas]

We need to press on with ensuring that the Online Safety Act achieves its ambitions, to make the UK a safe online environment.

[Clean Up the Internet @InternetClean]

"Without sufficiently clear and robust guidance, we fear more of the same delay, obfuscation, platitudes and half-measures which have characterised platforms’ (in)action to date."

@Kinsellas's recommendations for Ofcom's user verification guidance 👇

https://t.co/UAIhnKgOKt