U.K. Attorney Myles Jackman to Discuss New Digital-Rights Challenges

U.K. Attorney Myles Jackman to Discuss New Digital-Rights Challenges

LONDON — U.K. attorney Myles Jackman will discuss the importance of legal action in the fight to defend digital rights at a meeting sponsored by the Open Rights Group on Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Jackman, who also is the London-based organization’s legal director, will focus on fast-approaching challenges that adult website owners will face once the U.K.’s Digital Economy Act’s new age-verification law goes into effect in May.

He’ll also dive into the discussion over the government’s new mass surveillance program and the topic of protecting free speech online.

“No experience or knowledge is necessary for this free event,” the Open Rights Group said. “All you need is an interest in protecting our human rights in the digital era. We want to hear from you, so there will be plenty of time for questions and group discussion.”

The discussion, taking place at the Newspeak House in London, comes after recent revelations that the U.K.'s new age-verification laws could encourage risky online behavior for those who seek out porn.

The U.K. government, in a new report, “Particulars of Proposed Designation of Age-Verification Regulator,” noted that enforcing age checks for online porn sites also could be detrimental to smaller ISPs and significantly increase fraud.

The Digital Economy Act will require U.K. residents to prove they are 18 or over in order to get access to porn sites.

The rules will be enforced by the British Board of Film Classification in its new role as age-verification regulator, which will also allow it to require ISPs to block sites that don't comply. The BBFC has yet to fully iron out all the details of its new role, like what "blocking" will entail and protocols on an appeals process.

In the new report, the U.K. government said that some users might be headed to the dark web in search of their decided porn niche.

"[A]dults, and some children, may be pushed towards using ToR and related systems to avoid age verification where they could be exposed to illegal and extreme material that they otherwise would never have come into contact with," the report said.

For smaller ISPs, with smaller staffs, blocking large number of sites likely will be problematic and costly. Some type of automation would need to be developed and deployed, and some sites likely would be mistakenly filtered out, the report said.

As for potential fraud, the U.K. government said in the report that "the potential for online fraud could raise significantly, as criminals adapt approaches in order to make use of false age-verification systems/spoof websites and access user data.”

Jackman over the weekend commented on the latest report on findings of the Digital Economy Act, noting that the government has taken a hypocritical line.

"It seems perverse that, in an environment where the government is promulgating anti-extremism and saying terrorists must be stopped from using ToR, it has to openly acknowledge that this policy will increase its use," Jackman told the Register.

Open Rights Group’s “Digital Rights in the Courts in 2018” will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. at Newspeak House, 133-135 Bethnal Green Rd., E2 7DG, London.

Pictured: Myles Jackman

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Two Texas Bills Restricting Sex Toy Sales Fail to Pass

Two bills aimed at restricting sales of sex toys have failed to pass the Texas state legislature during its 2025 session.

NYC Adult Stores Petition for Rehearing in Zoning Law Case

A group of adult businesses on Tuesday petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to rehear a case involving a zoning law that could severely limit adult stores’ operations in New York City.

Ofcom Releases Transparency Reporting Guidelines

Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator, has made public its official guidance detailing how online service providers — including adult sites — will be required to publish annual transparency reports on their efforts to protect children from online harms.

New AV Rules Take Effect for Ireland-Based Sites

Ireland’s Online Safety Code came into force Monday, including a provision requiring adult sites headquartered in Ireland to implement age assurance measures beyond self-declaration.

XBIZ Amsterdam Calls on New Startups for 'Spotlight' Program

XBIZ is pleased to announce that its new “Startup Spotlight” programming will make its European premiere at XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel Amsterdam.

Texas Resumes AV Lawsuit Against Aylo Following SCOTUS Decision

A district court judge in Texas has unfrozen the state’s $1.6 million lawsuit against Aylo for allegedly failing to comply with age verification requirements, Bloomberg Law is reporting.

Show More