Comment Several billion tons (Score 1) 26
Billions of tons?? There was me thinking ChatGPT generating 260 tons of carbon dioxide a month was bad.
https://news.aibase.com/news/14945
https://news.aibase.com/news/14945
Comment 4.5 gigawatts (Score 1) 20
Hey, it's not like there's any problems with the climate we need to worry about - AI will give us than answer!
Comment Just lies (Score 1) 31
I have a svreenshot of an item I wanted, taken 2 weeks before Prime Day and the price increased during the "Sale".
Sheeple believing the lies, paying for Bezos' rocket fuel.
Sheeple believing the lies, paying for Bezos' rocket fuel.
Submission + - Civitai Blocking Access to the United Kingdom
Shakes Fist writes: Thanks to the Online Safety Act, the UK is blocking access to one of the world's largest AI resources. The government that wants the UK to be a software powerhouse. Labour didn't introduce this but they didn't oppose it.
I quote:
"Civitai Blocking Access to the United Kingdom
---------------------------------------------
As of 11:59pm UTC on the 24th July 2025, users located in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will no longer be able to access Civitai.
We know this is deeply disappointing news, and we're tremendously sorry to our UK community. You've been an important and valued part of our platform since inception, and we're heartbroken to have to take such a drastic step. This decision wasn't taken lightly, and we want to be transparent about why it's necessary.
### The Online Safety Act (OSA) Is a Serious Compliance Burden
The UK government has enacted the Online Safety Act (OSA), a sweeping new law that governs any online service accessible to UK users — even those hosted abroad. If your platform allows user-generated content (as ours does), you're required to comply.
This law is not limited to big tech. It explicitly applies to platforms of all sizes, including small companies like ours. It doesn’t matter where we're based. The moment a UK user can access our site, we're on the hook.
The law requires:
- Two complex legal risk assessments (on illegal content and children's access)
- Ongoing compliance documentation and auditing
- Age verification systems, requiring intrusive biometric ID checks
- Expanded moderation requirements, and the removal of new categories of content, under the UK's Extreme Pornography legislation.
If that sounds like a lot, it is. The law itself is over 250 pages long, and the regulatory guidance from Ofcom — the UK enforcement agency — is currently over 3,000 pages. It is legalese-laden, cross-referenced, and constantly shifting.
We’re a small team. We simply don’t have the legal budget or manpower to decode and implement this. Attempting to comply without expert legal counsel would be reckless, and if we get it wrong...
### The Penalties Are Real — And Personal
Non-compliance with the OSA is no joke. Ofcom has the power to levy fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue, whichever is greater.
These fines aren't a threat; they're being applied to platforms now. In March, after the first requirements of the Bill came into effect, Ofcom fined OnlyFans £1.05 million for failing to adequately explain their age-assurance measures.
More chillingly, company directors and designated managers can face personal criminal liability if Ofcom determines we failed in our child safety or moderation duties. The law empowers Ofcom to act without warning: their first contact with a platform can be a formal breach notice with enforcement action attached. We cannot risk this level of liability.
### Can't We Just Fly Under the Radar?
Unfortunately, no. We're already on it. We've had multiple meetings with the UK Home Office to defend the legitimacy of our AI-generated content and protect creative freedom. We’re not an unknown startup. Civitai is known to UK regulators, and pretending we can remain invisible simply isn't realistic.
### Why Not Just Comply?
We wish we could. But the truth is, this law was written with massive tech firms in mind, not modest teams like ours. It requires constant legal review, multi-layered moderation systems beyond those we have in place now, and deep regulatory expertise. To do this responsibly and effectively would require hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. It's not just a few policies — these sorts of obligations require a full-time legal team, and expanded moderation team which we can't afford.
### What Happens Next
At the deadline, UK users will begin seeing a block message when visiting Civitai from within the blocked territories.
### To Our UK Community
We're truly sorry. This situation is deeply frustrating, and a geoblock was our last possible option. We care about this space, and we care about our users.
We hope the regulatory climate changes in the future, and if and when it does, we’ll reassess our ability to reopen access to the UK. That said, if recent legislation is any indication — such as proposals to further restrict even consensual adult content — we worry that the trend may be moving in the opposite direction."
An online petition to question this was started https://petition.parliament.uk... which has gained over 17'000 signatures. The Government responds to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures.
I quote:
"Civitai Blocking Access to the United Kingdom
---------------------------------------------
As of 11:59pm UTC on the 24th July 2025, users located in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will no longer be able to access Civitai.
We know this is deeply disappointing news, and we're tremendously sorry to our UK community. You've been an important and valued part of our platform since inception, and we're heartbroken to have to take such a drastic step. This decision wasn't taken lightly, and we want to be transparent about why it's necessary.
### The Online Safety Act (OSA) Is a Serious Compliance Burden
The UK government has enacted the Online Safety Act (OSA), a sweeping new law that governs any online service accessible to UK users — even those hosted abroad. If your platform allows user-generated content (as ours does), you're required to comply.
This law is not limited to big tech. It explicitly applies to platforms of all sizes, including small companies like ours. It doesn’t matter where we're based. The moment a UK user can access our site, we're on the hook.
The law requires:
- Two complex legal risk assessments (on illegal content and children's access)
- Ongoing compliance documentation and auditing
- Age verification systems, requiring intrusive biometric ID checks
- Expanded moderation requirements, and the removal of new categories of content, under the UK's Extreme Pornography legislation.
If that sounds like a lot, it is. The law itself is over 250 pages long, and the regulatory guidance from Ofcom — the UK enforcement agency — is currently over 3,000 pages. It is legalese-laden, cross-referenced, and constantly shifting.
We’re a small team. We simply don’t have the legal budget or manpower to decode and implement this. Attempting to comply without expert legal counsel would be reckless, and if we get it wrong...
### The Penalties Are Real — And Personal
Non-compliance with the OSA is no joke. Ofcom has the power to levy fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue, whichever is greater.
These fines aren't a threat; they're being applied to platforms now. In March, after the first requirements of the Bill came into effect, Ofcom fined OnlyFans £1.05 million for failing to adequately explain their age-assurance measures.
More chillingly, company directors and designated managers can face personal criminal liability if Ofcom determines we failed in our child safety or moderation duties. The law empowers Ofcom to act without warning: their first contact with a platform can be a formal breach notice with enforcement action attached. We cannot risk this level of liability.
### Can't We Just Fly Under the Radar?
Unfortunately, no. We're already on it. We've had multiple meetings with the UK Home Office to defend the legitimacy of our AI-generated content and protect creative freedom. We’re not an unknown startup. Civitai is known to UK regulators, and pretending we can remain invisible simply isn't realistic.
### Why Not Just Comply?
We wish we could. But the truth is, this law was written with massive tech firms in mind, not modest teams like ours. It requires constant legal review, multi-layered moderation systems beyond those we have in place now, and deep regulatory expertise. To do this responsibly and effectively would require hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. It's not just a few policies — these sorts of obligations require a full-time legal team, and expanded moderation team which we can't afford.
### What Happens Next
At the deadline, UK users will begin seeing a block message when visiting Civitai from within the blocked territories.
### To Our UK Community
We're truly sorry. This situation is deeply frustrating, and a geoblock was our last possible option. We care about this space, and we care about our users.
We hope the regulatory climate changes in the future, and if and when it does, we’ll reassess our ability to reopen access to the UK. That said, if recent legislation is any indication — such as proposals to further restrict even consensual adult content — we worry that the trend may be moving in the opposite direction."
An online petition to question this was started https://petition.parliament.uk... which has gained over 17'000 signatures. The Government responds to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures.
Comment Re:Ugh (Score 1) 20
A new "feature" added to my list of "Do Not Want".
Comment Not groundbreaking (Score 1) 83
Russia is just following in the UK and China's footsteps.
Comment Re:Case in point (Score 1) 40
Bookmarked - thank you!
Comment The wedge (Score 1) 112
So, it's "questinable" games now.
With no way of fighting this or even questioning the companies forcing it, when will "they" decide that they're going to decide books/movies/music are next?
Censorship is, literally, book-burning. Just because the titles being removed aren't what you enjoy doesn't mean your media won't be targetted next.
With no way of fighting this or even questioning the companies forcing it, when will "they" decide that they're going to decide books/movies/music are next?
Censorship is, literally, book-burning. Just because the titles being removed aren't what you enjoy doesn't mean your media won't be targetted next.
Comment Time scale? (Score 1) 13
No mention of how long until human trials even start, let alone when we can buy it.
Comment Long time coming (Score 1) 13
The last Nokia I wanted was the Communicator as I was running an Ericsson PF768 connected to the Ericsson badged HP320. After the Ericsson T68 came out, there wasn't a Nokia to be desired. The P800/P900 and P910i were the choice of geeks.
Even when the 1st iPhone was released, the only thing it had over the P910 was it's size. SE dropped (stabbed, then set fire to) the ball with the P990.
Comment $900 million on the cosmos? (Score 0) 60
Explain how spending this money helps starving/homeless people...
Comment Peak? (Score 2) 33
"Downloading pirated games and movies hurts the creative industry!"
"Downloading actor's voices and likenesses is cheaper than paying them"
"Downloading actor's voices and likenesses is cheaper than paying them"
Comment Not listening (Score 1) 14
My money goes to the manufacturer of a decent credit card sized phone, not some gimmicky nonsense.
Comment Learn your phone. (Score 1) 74
Install F-Droid.
Install TrackerControl.
Install Canta.
Install Shizuku.
It really is that simple.
Install TrackerControl.
Install Canta.
Install Shizuku.
It really is that simple.
Comment Reciprocate (Score 1) 42
Sure, block the 2000 accounts. Then block ALL the Indian government accounts.
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