'We are building a global movement' — UK's teen social media ban sparks a campaign to defend the open internet | Tech Radar
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'We are building a global movement' — UK's teen social media ban sparks a campaign to defend the open internet
The Stop Killing the Internet campaign has also launched a petition urging the UK government to scrap its plan
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UK digital rights advocates join the newly formed Stop Killing the Internet movement
The group was launched a day after the UK announced an upcoming social media ban for under-16s
A petition urging the UK government to scrap its plan is also now live
Just 24 hours after the British Prime Minister announced a sweeping social media ban for under-16s, UK digital rights advocates have joined forces to launch a global movement opposing online restrictions.
The "Stop Killing the Internet" campaign has a clear mission — defending the open internet against state policies that could trigger mass surveillance and excessive control under the guise of online safety.
An official statement seen by Tech Radar explains that the campaign formed after global advocates met to discuss how proposals like social media bans, on-device scanning, and heightened state surveillance are accelerating worldwide.
Organizers officially unveiled the campaign on Tuesday at a press conference inside the European Parliament, alongside a new petition urging the UK government to scrap its plans.
High-profile groups including the Open Rights Group, Big Brother Watch, and Index on Censorship are among the UK-based digital rights organizations that have already backed the movement.
UK bans social media ban for under-16s — all the latest news live
The UK Government's new social media rules for under-16s are coming soon
'A cybersecurity disaster waiting to happen' — The VPN industry reacts to the UK's teen social media ban
Moritz Katzner, director of Stop Killing Games — the movement's sister campaign — is urging the public to resist the recently announced measures.
"The internet is a place of education, games, friendship, culture, work, and public debate. Like any town hall, it can become ugly. But we would never respond by shutting down the town hall. We would never demand identity papers at the door," he said.
(Image credit: Jaimi Joy/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Stop Killing the Internet coalition launched in response to a wave of international legislative proposals that attempt to address child safety using what privacy experts call invasive, privacy-eroding measures.
The campaign's launch follows a succession of ultimatums from the government, including Monday's proposed social media ban and a looming deadline for Apple and Google to enforce on-device scanning.
"We all want children to be safe online, but these policies create new safety and privacy risks for young people and entire adult populations alike," said Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch.
Nigel Farage says UK's teen social media ban is 'unlikely to work' — but will VPNs really help children get around the restrictions?
Medical report links social media use in children to tobacco use
The UK warned 'not to undermine the open web' as Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill becomes law
The campaign seeks to unite internet users, families, content creators, and technical experts who want lawmakers to find less invasive solutions to these societal harms.
"Open Rights Group encourages people around the world who want a human-rights-based approach to tackling harm to join this movement," said James Baker, programme manager at the Open Rights Group.
More information on the Stop Killing the Internet movement and its active petition can be found on the campaign's official website.
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Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life – wherever cybersecurity, markets, and politics tangle up. She believes an open, uncensored, and private internet is a basic human need and wants to use her knowledge of VPNs to help readers take back control. She writes news, interviews, and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, tech policies, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for Tech Radar and Tech Radar Pro. Got a story, tip-off, or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to chiara.castro@futurenet.com
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