The Online Safety Act is having a ‘catastrophic’ impact on free speech after people were blocked from viewing videos of asylum seeker hotel protests, campaigners have warned.
Users of X – formerly Twitter – complained they were unable to view clips of police detaining activists in the UK, with messages on-screen saying it was ‘due to local laws’.
X even barred users from watching a powerful speech about grooming gangs which Conservative MP Katie Lam made to Parliament earlier this year.
Since last Friday, websites have been required to check users are aged over 18 before letting them access potentially ‘harmful’ material such as pornography or face being fined up to £18million.
But critics including US Vice-President JD Vance have said legislation introduced by the Tories in 2023 could be used to attack free speech.
