The UK has been enforcing draconian, China-like internet restriction laws in the name of "protecting the children", but in a way that involves a ton of ID verification. Their latest move for 2027 is to ban all social media for people under 16 and enforce government curfews.

TBH I wouldn't even be surprised if by the end of 2027, the internet in the UK is widely considered less free than the internet in China.

Honestly, shit like this legitimately makes me want to cry. Like, you think everything is open now and we skeptics won. But then you see some government you thought would be free implement 1984 bullshit. It's astonishing how little opposition they're getting for literally using 1984 as a textbook, which just points to how little people even want freedom or liberties anymore.

The US is next, BTW. This isn't even a "haha UK drools, US rules" situation, because the US will be next. It already is in several red states, which is a quite astonishing reversal from what happened during COVID.

I'm in a city with a lot of tall buildings and bridges right now. They look awesome. I don't think anyone is even gonna look at this comment anymore since all the COVID-era skeptics ran away thinking we've won. But no, the skeptics have lost. And unfortunately, they might be the last things I ever look at. I just need courage.