The UK’s Online Safety Act, aimed at protecting children from harmful content, has become a rallying point for the right in both the UK and the US. Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has been embroiled in a furious row with a Labour government minister after pledging to repeal the legislation. Republicans held meetings with UK politicians and the communications regulator, Ofcom, while the impact of the new law is also being closely watched in Australia, which is preparing to ban under-16s from social media. Experts believe the inherent tensions in the act, between swiftly removing harmful content and preserving free speech, are likely to evaporate. The US vice-president, JD Vance, has called free speech in the UK “in retreat.” Republicans have also threatened Ofcom and EU staff with a visa ban. Concerns over free speech also intersect with economic interest, as major tech platforms under the Act are all based in the US.
Nigel Farage, a UK peer and campaigner on online child safety, has been criticized for his role in the UK’s Online Safety Act. The act requires tech companies to age-gate pornography sites and prevent children from accessing content that encourages suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. However, some content has been age-gated to avoid being classified as breaching these regulations. Ofcom spokespersons have stated that the act requires tech companies to prevent children from seeing harmful content and tackle criminal content while protecting free speech. Mark Jones, a partner at London law firm Payne Hicks Beach, said there is a risk that social media companies may be overly cautious and remove perfectly legal material in the UK. Rows over how content was treated by Ofcom are likely to run due to the tension between speedily tackling harmful content and letting free speech reign.
