X Claims UK Online Safety Law Is a Threat to Free Speech

Social media company X criticized the UK’s Online Safety Act. The company warned that the broad scope of the legislation risks unnecessary bureaucracy and poses a threat to free speech.

In a statement, X criticised the breadth of the law’s enforcement, stating that its laudable intentions are at risk of being overridden by regulatory overreach. “When lawmakers approved these measures, they made a conscientious decision to increase censorship in the name of ‘online safety, ’” the company posted on X. “It is fair to ask if UK citizens were equally aware of the trade-off being made.”

X said the rollout has come with unnecessarily tight timelines and significant compliance costs. Despite meeting the obligations under the law, the company said it continues to face threats of fines and enforcement, pushing platforms toward over-censorship. The Online Safety Act introduced wide-ranging rules for platforms, as well as pornography sites, to enforce age verification and remove harmful and illegal content.

While the government maintains the measures are essential to protecting children and users, it has attracted criticism from free-speech activists. More than 470,000 people have signed a petition calling for the law’s withdrawal, citing privacy concerns as users are required to upload personal data for age verification. However, the government confirmed earlier this week that it has no plans to repeal the legislation.

X also flagged concerns about a new National Internet Intelligence Investigations unit established within the British Police to monitor online content for signs of unrest and hate speech, warning it could further curb free speech. “Instead of specifically and collaboratively addressing a problem everyone agrees needs to be solved”, stated X, adding that regulators have adopted a “heavy-handed approach by rapidly increasing enforcement resources, adding layers of bureaucratic oversight”.