Trump's deputy, JD Vance, cautions Britain against treading a dark path of suppressing free speech, in a meeting with David Lammy.
In a recent meeting between Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Vice President JD Vance, the duo discussed a range of global issues, including the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, advancements in technology, and the future of free speech in Britain.
Vice President Vance, who has previously criticized Britain for enforcing some of the toughest restrictions on free speech globally, expressed concern that the West, including NATO allies and the United States under the Biden administration, has grown too comfortable with censoring. He urged Britain to avoid silencing free speech, particularly in light of the UK's new Online Safety Act (OSA).
The OSA, which targets children's social media usage, has been met with criticism due to its broad and burdensome regulatory requirements. Critics argue that these requirements have led to some sites shutting down or blocking UK users, effectively chilling free expression online. The Act mandates all websites accessible in the UK—even very small ones—to perform extensive impact assessments and age verification, which many find overly onerous and intrusive.
The OSA also raises concerns about government and platform control over what content is allowed, risking censorship and algorithmic bias. Mandatory age verification measures may restrict access to a broad range of websites, including Wikipedia, where volunteers fear being forced to reveal identities, threatening contributor privacy and safety.
Internationally, the OSA has been criticized for "chilling speech," with concerns raised by the US government about the UK heading down a "very dark path" of losing free speech. While the UK government insists the Act's primary aim is protecting children from harmful content, opponents contend it disproportionately harms users’ rights to privacy and free speech, often conflating opposition with support for predatory behavior.
These issues have led to legal challenges and ongoing debate about balancing online safety with preserving open, free speech online in the UK. Vice President Vance warned that the OSA could be a blunt tool to censor free speech, a concern echoed by Foreign Secretary Lammy.
In addition to discussing free speech, Mr. Lammy and Mr. Vance also touched upon issues like irregular and illegal migration and how to deal with those issues. The visit from the latest high-profile American politician comes shortly after Donald Trump's five-day trip to Turnberry and Aberdeenshire.
During his visit, Mr. Trump opened the new 18 holes at his golf course at Trump International in Menie and met with the First Minister and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Vice President Vance is expected to make a trip across to Scotland next week, where he will spend two days with Mr. Lammy at Chevening before heading to the Cotswolds for a summer break.
- Vice President Vance, in discussion with Foreign Secretary David Lammy, expressed his concerns about the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) posing a risk of censorship and algorithmic bias, and cautioning that it could be a blunt tool to silence free speech.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the ongoing debate centers around the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA), with criticisms arising from its broad regulatory requirements and potential impact on children's social media usage, general-news reporting, and free speech protection.
