Internet Freedom Under Threat: Coalition Protests UK's Online Restrictions

A coalition of 19 prominent digital rights organizations, including Mozilla, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and Stop Killing Games, have united to challenge the UK government's recent internet regulations. Their joint statement warns that measures like the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and the Online Safety Act are undermining the open internet, imposing invasive age verification, and failing to protect children effectively. Instead, they argue, these laws burden all users with privacy-invasive technologies while restricting access to vital information. Below, we break down the key questions and insights from this significant intervention.

What is the joint statement from Mozilla and other organizations about?

The statement, signed by 19 organizations, is a formal protest against the UK government’s approach to online regulation. It argues that the 'open Internet is a global public resource' essential for individuals, businesses, and societies. The signatories claim that recent laws—particularly the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and the Online Safety Act—threaten this openness by forcing intrusive age checks on all users, not just minors. The groups call on ministers to stop making the internet 'worse' and instead focus on designing services that uphold user rights by default.

Which specific UK legislation is being targeted?

The primary focus is the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which passed its final legislative stage on April 29, 2026. This bill grants the government new powers to restrict social media use for under-16s (pending a consultation closing May 26) and imposes a statutory smartphone ban in schools. Additionally, the Online Safety Act, introduced in 2025, has already made internet usage more invasive by compelling services to verify users are over 18. The coalition argues that these laws represent a 'sledgehammer approach' that inconveniences everyone without genuinely protecting children.

How does the Online Safety Act affect everyday internet users in the UK?

Under the Online Safety Act, many websites and apps now require users to prove they are over 18 before accessing certain features. For UK residents, this means constant age checks—often via unreliable or privacy-invasive technologies. As the joint statement notes, 'existing age assurance technologies are either insufficiently accurate, undermine privacy and data security, or are not widely available.' This leads to a fragmented and frustrating user experience, where legitimate content becomes harder to reach and personal data is at greater risk.

What are the concerns about the age assurance technologies being used?

The coalition highlights several critical flaws. First, these technologies are not accurate enough, often misidentifying users. Second, they compromise privacy by collecting sensitive personal data. Third, many people lack access to the required verification methods (e.g., biometric scans or government IDs). The letter warns that even targeted age restrictions 'could mean that all users are required to complete intrusive age assurance processes to retain full access.' This creates a universal dragnet that fails to protect children while eroding adult privacy.

How might these restrictions harm young people’s access to information?

Paradoxically, the laws may hurt the very group they aim to protect. The internet provides essential resources for young people to explore sensitive topics (e.g., health, sexuality, or mental well-being) in a safe, anonymous way. By erecting age barriers and invasive checks, the government risks cutting off access to this vital information. The statement emphasizes that the internet 'enables young people to engage with the world in a way that transcends their immediate environment.' Restrictive gatekeeping could isolate them precisely when they need support.

What alternative approach do the signatories recommend?

Instead of blanket age verification, the organizations advocate for designing platforms that 'uphold [young people’s] rights and interests by default.' This means building safer environments from the ground up—e.g., strong privacy settings, content moderation, and age-appropriate design—rather than relying on after-the-fact identity checks. They urge the UK to focus on ensuring services are designed to protect all users, not on imposing intrusive verification that compromises the open internet for everyone. As they put it, 'Ministers are consulting on restricting access rather than designing better services.'

Which organizations are part of this coalition?

The joint statement is signed by 19 groups, including Mozilla, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Stop Killing Games, and many others listed in the full document. These organizations range from digital rights charities to open-web advocates, all united in opposing the UK’s current regulatory path. Their collective voice represents a broad swath of the tech and civil society sectors, warning that these laws will have lasting negative consequences for internet freedom in Britain and potentially set a harmful precedent globally.