Bitcoin News Today: UK and US Privacy Laws Intensify, Experts Push for Digital Anonymity Tools

Online privacy is coming under increased scrutiny in the United Kingdom and the United States, with new legislative and judicial developments making it harder for individuals to maintain anonymity online. Freddie New, a policy expert from Bitcoin Policy UK, has stepped in with actionable advice for individuals seeking to safeguard their digital footprints amid growing surveillance and data exploitation.

In recent months, the UK implemented the Online Safety Act on July 25, requiring users to input identifying information to access certain websites in an effort to protect minors from harmful content. Meanwhile, in the US, legal actions against privacy-focused tools like Bitcoin mixers have intensified. The founders of Samourai Wallet and Tornado Cash, for example, have faced charges for operating unlicensed financial services, signaling a broader trend of legal crackdowns on privacy-enhancing technologies.

New emphasizes that while the outlook for digital privacy is “pretty shit,” it is not yet hopeless. He outlines several practical steps individuals can take to enhance their online anonymity. Foremost among these is the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which allows users to browse from a remote server, masking their IP address. Proton VPN, for instance, saw an 1800% increase in downloads the day the Online Safety Act took effect.

New also recommends using fully encrypted email services such as Proton Mail, which ensures that only the sender and recipient can read the contents of an email. Additionally, he suggests setting up a Nostr key pair via clients like Primal or Iris, which do not require identifying information and offer access to a decentralized social network tied to the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Understanding and utilizing progressive web apps (PWAs) and Android Package Kits (APKs) is another key step. These methods allow users to access applications through web browsers or sideload apps on Android devices without relying on official app stores—platforms that often require more personal data to operate.

New also highlights the importance of using a bitcoin hardware wallet, such as Trezor or COLDCARD, to transact more privately than with custodial apps like Relai or CashApp. He argues that these tools are essential for reducing reliance on centralized platforms that collect and exploit user data.

The expert encourages a gradual approach to privacy enhancement, advising individuals to start with one or two strategies rather than feeling overwhelmed by all available options. As he noted, “No one in the digital age is ever going to have perfect privacy, but you can be slightly better than the next person — improving your privacy even slightly is better than not taking the step at all.”

New’s insights underscore the urgent need for both individual action and policy reform. He stresses that while technological solutions can help, they are not sufficient on their own. A cultural shift toward valuing privacy, alongside stronger legal protections, is essential to addressing the systemic threats to digital anonymity.

Source: [1] Online Privacy Is Under Threat in the UK and US. Policy Expert Freddie New Advises How To Protect Yourself (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/online-privacy-is-under-threat-in-the-uk-and-us-policy-expert-freddie-new-advises-how-to-protect-yourself)