The US Congress has name-checked Sir Keir Starmer as it delivered a stinging verdict on Britain’s “copycat censorship laws”, warning of a “direct threat” to free speech.
In a report published today, the US Committee on the Judiciary said the European Commission is heading up a global push to impose “strict digital censorship laws” — with the UK’s Online Safety Act singled out as the most prominent attempt to replicate Brussels’ approach.
The Online Safety Act aims to protect children and adults online and as of last year, includes the use of age checks on platforms, including X, Reddit and TikTok.
** FREE SPEECH UNDER THREAT? HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY ONLINE **
The report reads: “In many ways, the [European] Commission is leading a global effort for strict digital censorship laws.
“Copycat bills have emerged in Australia, South Korea, and elsewhere around the world as censorious foreign officials have taken to US universities to plan their global censorship regime.
“Perhaps the most notable foreign attempt to imitate the Digital Services Act has been the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act.”
The US Congress goes on to accuse regulators in Britain of using the Online Safety Act to “threaten American platforms with regulatory retaliation”.
** FREE SPEECH UNDER THREAT? HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY ONLINE **
The report adds Sir Keir is prepared to go further still and is now “threatening to take X offline in the UK”.
The report accuses regulators in Britain of using the Online Safety Act to 'threaten American platforms with regulatory retaliation'
|ANNABELLE GORDON/GETTY
Media watchdog Ofcom launched an investigation into X last month following reports its AI chatbot Grok created and shared sexualised images of children with the Prime Minister subsequently requesting “all options to be on the table”, sparking speculation of a possible ban on the social media platform.
The US Congress also cited previous “oversight” which shows regulators such as Ofcom “sought to censor legitimate political speech” critical of the Government, referencing widespread riots in the summer of 2024 following the Southport attack.
** FREE SPEECH UNDER THREAT? HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY ONLINE **
“...The Online Safety Act paves the way for Ofcom, the UK’s relevant regulatory authority, to regulate how social media platforms ‘should deal with [so-called] disinformation and misinformation’,” the report states.
“The Committee’s oversight has previously shown that British regulators sought to censor legitimate political speech criticising the government, including ‘narratives’ about a ‘two-tier’ system of justice in the UK, during large-scale riots in August 2024.
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The report said Sir Keir Starmer is 'threatening to take X offline in the UK'
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“British regulators have also used the Online Safety Act to threaten American platforms with regulatory retaliation if they do not ‘embed [British] standards’ on topics like ‘hate’ speech into their content moderation policies.”
** FREE SPEECH UNDER THREAT? HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY ONLINE **
The report adds that the “global campaign to censor speech” has escalated, citing the case of Graham Linehan. The Father Ted creator was arrested at Heathrow Airport in September last year over social media posts about transgender issues.
The incident sparked a significant row over freedom of expression, with the writer pledging to hold the Metropolitan Police accountable for what he described as an attempt to silence gender-critical voices.
Graham Linehan was arrested at Heathrow Airport last September over social media posts
|PA
Scotland Yard subsequently dropped the investigation, determining that Mr Linehan would face no further action.
** FREE SPEECH UNDER THREAT? HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY ONLINE **
The report reads: “Graham Linehan, an award-winning comedy writer, advocate for protection of women-only spaces, and Irish citizen, was arrested by armed police upon his arrival at London’s Heathrow Airport from the United States for three tweets he posted several months prior.
“Linehan’s possessions were 'confiscated' and he was transported to a prison cell before being released on a single bail condition: he could no longer post on X. It was a clear attempt by British authorities to silence a political opponent who resides in the United States.”
The comedy writer is set to appear before the US Congress this week, where he will accuse Sir Keir Starmer of diminishing free speech in Britain.
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