Resistance Update #1

What's in the news, what we've done and what you can do!

Things I’ve done so far

I have submitted a petition to the UK government to safeguard analogue rights. Thanks to those who signed the draft. It is currently not visible because it is going through an approvals process. I’ll share the link when it is live!

I am in touch wth the ‘Volksanwaltschaft’ in Austria, specifically citing two cases of ‘Digitalzwang’ (digital coercion) that have personally affected me. One concerns being forced to own a smartphone (for 2FA) in order to pay a certain industry tax. The other regards something similar for personal income tax to the ‘Finanzamt’ - analogue tax declarations are still possible, however the form states that the information must be typed. This means taxpayers are forced to own a computer, and be reasonably competent with it, in order to pay tax to the state! I’ll update on how that goes when I have had a proper conversation! For the German-speakers, I have attached a screenshot of my opening mail.

I’ve taken photos of a petrol station I will boycott because it has no human staff and only an automatic machine that might, if nothing else, be tricky for older people to use.

I’ve taken screenshots of my formal complaint to Halifax bank in the UK, which declares a refusal to engage with ’service’ bots.

The idea of the photos and screenshots would be to put this sort of tiny protest action on at least one dedicated social media account, as well as publish them on a dedicated web page. Social media and proper web page are pending more interest and help. I need to be convinced it’s worth putting in that sort of time. On that topic...

What can I do?

Most importantly, you can spread the word. Consider who might be interested in this topic and pass this on! Get them to sign up below, or, if they’re not online, send us some other way of contacting them (offlinerights@substack.com) and we’ll work something out.

Maybe you can look at starting a petition in your country of citizenship? I can ONLY do UK and South Africa. Happy to help with wording, etc!

Is there a free citizens’ legal service or consumer rights body where you live? It should be easy enough to find a case of ‘digital coercion’ to take to them. The exact case may not be too important…I’m treating the Volksanwaltschaft as an opportunity to have a conversation with an expert about legal options around the wider issue.

Some encouragement

For those getting creeped out by AI running rampant, an issue that goes hand in hand with the push to eliminate analogue life, it is pleasing to note that the EU is investigating Google for thieving content made by humans.

Also, following a petition that went through exactly the process mine is undergoing, yesterday the UK parliament was obliged to debate the matter of introducing Digital ID cards. Here is a link to watch that:

So yes, it is possible for governments, etc, to question and fight the idea of letting tech take over everything without us getting a vote. The more of us pull together and make a noise, the more governments (and also businesses, etc) will be forced to take this issue seriously.

Do feel free to send good-news links to offlinerights@substack.com if you stumble across them, so I can share them next time!