[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

We need to be very careful of where internet regulation is going, we should not be blind to the fact that the UK is at the forefront of regulating it. While regulation in itself is great for removing terrorist propaganda and fake news for example, the laws being brought in are much more restrictive than that and open to abuse

Agree 100% with this.

Honestly, I find the amount of censorship on the internet quite scary.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I agree and in all honesty, anyone who hasn't completely deleted their old social media accounts that go back years and (if still using social media at all) switched to fresh, HEAVILY controlled profiles is being flat out stupid. If there's even a CHANCE that you made a dodgy joke 10 years ago that you don't remember, back when no one cared, burn the entire account and start a new one. I don't have any social media account that's more than 2 years old and I'm very, very selective about what I'll post on them.

On the plus side; it might mean a resurgence of anonymous / semi-anonymous social internet, like forums .

Again, agree with this, but the bolded part..forums and such are considered social media aren't they?

I rant on facebook all the time about random ****. I just put up a bit of a rant about yet another woman killed in a 'sex game gone wrong' which is just utter bollocks and excuses.

I find it very hard NOT to post about stuff like that, I should maybe really just delete my facebook and even forum posts and just start fresh, unless I want a random criminal record entry, to go along with my current ones. Couldn't go to America or anything anyway I don't think

AFAIK, my FB is private, I am sure I have set it so people cannot even search me...like they see none of my posts if they do. I did have it set so search did not work at all, but that options seems to have disappeared now :S But my few forum accounts are obviously not private.

[Sticks]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

Yeah but it's not really a criminal offence is my point so surely the USA can't punish someone over something that isn't even illegal to say in their own country? She's not a danger to their people.

If it is a criminal offence anywhere, in this case Dubai,, it counts as one to US immigration, end of.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Sticks

If it is a criminal offence anywhere, in this case Dubai,, it counts as one to US immigration, end of.

This is true. She could still get a visa although there are several hoops to jump through, including an interview. Then the embassy would hold her passport for at least a month while her application was processed. They take the offence into account and calling someone a horse on Facebook probably doesn't score very high... but you never know.

[Sticks]

If you think that is extreme, if you are arrested, but never charged with anything, you still can be excluded from the US. US immigration is ultra strict.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Sticks

If you think that is extreme, if you are arrested, but never charged with anything, you still can be excluded from the US. US immigration is ultra strict.

Yes, they take it all very seriously. Actually, they take it seriously even if you've never been arrested. I work in the Middle East a bit and I'm always ages at immigration explaining the stamps.