3. In the Name of Safety & Security
G’day beautiful people,
Let’s take a quick peek into the not-so-distant future…
Picture it: you wander into what used to be the local grocer, now called Food Ration Centre #657, to grab your weekly “nutrition” pills (plant-based, factory-fresh, and lovingly monitored, of course). Before you can say “where’s the real food?”, you’re met by a bloke in a uniform. “ID?” he asks, not looking up. Your hand is scanned, red light flashes, and just like that, you’re pulled up for having an “unapproved post” on social media. One old Facebook question about farmland, and bam – you’re not allowed your food this week. Maybe next time if you keep your mouth shut, mate.
Sounds a bit out there? Maybe. But if you’ve been watching the news, you’ll know it’s not as far-fetched as it used to be.
Here’s what’s actually happening: In the UK, the Online Safety Act means authorities are cracking down hard. Every social platform now wants you to upload your ID just so you can chat with mates or watch videos. They dress it up as “protecting kids” (which, fair enough, but really?), but what it means is your offline life and your online life are now one and the same. There’s even a new “elite police unit” scanning the internet for “harmful misinformation.” Feels a bit less like safety, a bit more like Big Brother every day.
And don’t think it’s just the Poms. Australia is rolling out its own version before the year’s end. Soon, you won’t just prove your age to buy a beer, you’ll have to flash your ID to search on Google or use social media. All, of course, “for your safety.”
But here’s the sneaky bit: freedom usually disappears bit by bit, always framed as “protection.” (Remember the Covid propaganda?) Before you know it, perfectly innocent folks are locked out, voices are silenced, and you’re being told what you can read and who you can talk to. Some of us have already copped it— a UK based agricultural freedom Facebook group got pulled down without warning, and to get it back, what did they need? You guessed it – ID again.
All this can make you feel pretty powerless. But here’s the good news: we’ve still got choices.
If you’re up for keeping a bit more of your freedom, here are three simple steps:
- Get a VPN. Blocks your internet provider from snooping and opens up blocked sites. Used to be optional, now it’s a must for privacy.
- Move away from big platforms. Tech giants are quick to toe the line, censor, and demand your ID. Try alternatives—search on DuckDuckGo or join private forums (that’s how Wild Minds started, by the way).
- Use secure messaging. Ditch Meta-owned apps where you can. Signal or Telegram give you more control, and Signal’s great for groups. (We may have some news in the near future about an even better alternative.)
In the end, this is more than a tech problem—it’s a choice about who decides how you live. “Safety” shouldn’t cost your voice, your privacy or your community.
We’re not powerless—not while we’ve got each other. Let’s not just play along. Let’s build something better, together. That’s what real community is for.
Here’s to our Forever Freedom
Susannah