On Saturday, August 2, the UK government defended its recently enacted online safety law in response to sharp criticism from the social media platform X, asserting that claims it undermines free speech are “demonstrably false”.
The legislation, effective from July 25, requires online platforms to adopt measures to block children from accessing harmful content, such as pornography.
However, X, previously known as Twitter and owned by billionaire Elon Musk, expressed concerns on Friday, cautioning that “the act’s laudable intentions are at risk of being overshadowed by the breadth of its regulatory reach”.
“Without a more balanced, collaborative approach, free speech will suffer,” the company stated, describing regulators’ actions as a “heavy-handed approach”.
“When lawmakers approved these measures, they made a conscientious decision to increase censorship in the name of ‘online safety,’” X added.
In reply, a government spokesperson declared, “It is demonstrably false that the Online Safety Act compromises free speech.”
“As well as legal duties to keep children safe, the very same law places clear and unequivocal duties on platforms to protect freedom of expression,” the spokesperson said.
The government clarified that the law “does not require platforms to age gate any content other than those which present the most serious risks to children, such as pornography or suicide and self-harm content,” adding that “platforms have had several months to prepare”.
Under the legislation, platforms failing to comply could face fines of up to £18 million ($24 million) or 10 per cent of their global turnover, whichever is higher.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli