Open Rights Group says new campaign will challenge restrictions on the open internet

Open Rights Group has announced the launch of Stop Killing the Internet, a new international campaign focused on defending the open internet.

The campaign has been formed by Stop Killing Games together with digital rights and civil society organisations, including Open Rights Group, Big Brother Watch, Index on Censorship, Defend Digital Me and NO2ID.

According to Open Rights Group, the campaign will oppose policies and practices that its supporters say could lead to excessive surveillance, exclusion from online spaces, or centralised control over internet access. The campaign says it supports approaches to online harm that protect children while also respecting privacy, free expression, democratic accountability and platform responsibility.

The initiative comes amid growing debate over online safety laws and proposals in several countries. These include social media bans for children, age verification requirements, scanning of devices, and other measures intended to reduce online harms.

Supporters of the campaign argue that some of these measures may create new risks. They say age checks and identity verification can require people to share sensitive personal data, while bans on access to platforms may limit young people’s ability to learn, communicate and participate online.

The campaign does not argue that online harms should be ignored. Its stated position is that governments should address harms through rights-respecting and community-led solutions, rather than broad restrictions on access or systems that increase surveillance.

James Baker, Programme Manager at Open Rights Group, said the campaign would bring together internet users, parents, young people, experts, content creators and campaigners who want a human rights-based approach to online harm.

The launch also comes as a UK petition opposing a social media ban passed 100,000 signatures. That is the threshold at which petitions on the UK Government and Parliament petitions website are normally considered for parliamentary debate.

Several organisations involved in the campaign linked the debate to concerns about age-gating, identity checks and government pressure on platforms and device providers. Big Brother Watch, for example, warned that such policies could expand data collection while failing to address the design choices of major technology companies.

Other campaign supporters focused on children’s rights. Defend Digital Me said children had asked for safer platforms, not to be excluded from online spaces. Index on Censorship also framed open internet access as part of democratic participation and freedom of expression.

Stop Killing the Internet says it will publish a statement of the threats it sees facing the open internet, together with calls for alternative policy approaches. Members of the public and organisations are being invited to sign up to the campaign.