Regulation Never Ends
We’re seeing more worrying developments from the UK regarding online regulation and it could really impact us New Zealand.
The UK Prime Minister has chosen to walk down the same path as the Australian’s and ban social media for under 16... But as is always the case…
they have decided to go further than originally expected.
They call it an “Australia plus” model. So all of the restriction and regulation that already exists in Australia - threatening privacy, parental autonomy and freedom of speech - and more!
This is the same country that already has an extensive online regulatory regime!
The same country that already has the likes of Ofcom which is tasked with regulating the UK’s online world and enforces the UK’s existing Online Safety Act which was passed to help the state “protect children and adults online”.
These are the developments that led to significant data and privacy breaches over recent months - like that of Discord in late 2025!
As one writer noted, “these laws and regulatory bodies suppress legitimate political speech, require mass collection of personal data and force platforms to restrict access to useful content in the name of ‘compliance’”.
But no. The existing legislation was just not enough.
In a country where there is already extensive frameworks for online regulations, they have decided to go for more. Enough is never enough!
These developments in the UK are particularly concerning given the fact that the New Zealand Select Committee Report literally says they want to copy them!
Read it for yourself...
You might remember PILLAR sounding the alarms on this in late 2025, long before anyone else did. We said this would lead to mass data collection, biometric scanning and ID verification.
Some didn't believe us but look at this...
The Minister of Education Erica Stanford has promised that there will be legislation released on this issue in the coming month. PILLAR is keeping a close eye on this and we hope you will too. These measures completely miss the mark and rush to regulate where parents should be taking responsibility.
We can hurry and haste all we want to pass laws that ‘protect children’ but if we are not willing to do the basics as parents, none of these laws will matter. The UK is showing us exactly this reality. They took an inch and are now coming for the mile.
This will come to New Zealand if we are not vigilant – but this does not have to be the case.
PILLAR has already led the charge on this issue and built a substantive public debate on these proposals - we won't be stopping.
We are keeping an eye on this and will keep sounding the alarm because as we like to say at PILLAR, we stand firm so that you can stand free.
Thank you for backing us!
