UK stands firm in defense of the proposed online safety legislation in response to criticism posed by X
The UK's Online Safety Act, enacted on July 25, 2025, aims to safeguard users, particularly children, from harmful online content [1][3]. The legislation imposes legal duties on online platforms like social media, search engines, and gaming services, requiring robust age verification measures to prevent underage access to inappropriate material [1][3].
However, the platform owned by Elon Musk has raised concerns about the Act, specifically in terms of censorship [2]. The company has asserted that the Act increases censorship in the name of online safety.
Contrary to these claims, the UK government maintains that the Online Safety Act does not compromise free speech [3]. Instead, it aims to protect it, emphasizing the importance of both keeping children safe and preserving freedom of expression [1]. The regulation focuses on reducing passive exposure of children to harmful content rather than total censorship [1].
Social network X (formerly Twitter) has not made official statements about the Act in the available sources. However, platforms are required to comply with Ofcom’s enforcement, which includes heavy penalties for non-compliance [2]. The platforms must implement effective content moderation, robust age verification, and reporting mechanisms to align with the government's safety duties under the Act [4].
The government has denied that the Act compromises free speech, with a spokesperson stating that the Act does not seek to ban all content outright for adults [3]. The Act's intentions are to minimize inadvertent exposure of harmful content to minors, not to surveil or excessively restrict speech [1][2].
In summary, while the UK's Online Safety Act mandates stringent protective measures for children online, it also aims to preserve adults' freedom of expression by targeting harmful content exposure specifically to minors. Social network X's concerns regarding censorship have been countered by the government's assertions that the Act does not compromise free speech. Enforcement is overseen by Ofcom, with significant compliance duties and penalties for platforms [1][2][3][4].
[1] UK Government (2023). Online Safety Bill. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-bill [2] Ofcom (2025). Online Safety Regulations. Retrieved from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/reports/online-safety-regulations [3] UK Government Spokesperson (2025). Press Release: Online Safety Act. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/online-safety-act [4] Ofcom (2025). Compliance Guidance for Online Safety Act. Retrieved from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/reports/compliance-guidance-online-safety-act
The UK's Online Safety Act has sparked debates about freedom of speech, with social network X expressing concerns over increased censorship. Despite these claims, the UK government asserts that the Act does not infringe on adults' freedom of expression, but rather focuses on minimizing harmful content exposure to minors. The regulatory body, Ofcom, enforces compliance with heavy penalties for non-adherence, requiring platforms to implement content moderation, robust age verification, and reporting mechanisms.
