Architect of the UK Online Safety Act Calls for Its Complete Repeal

19 hours ago

Nadine Dorries, former MP and Culture Secretary who introduced the Online Safety Bill, now calls for the Online Safety Act to be repealed entirely.
The call for repeal follows TikTok using the OSA to censor political speech, specifically Reform Party Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf, highlighting concerns over censorship of legitimate adult political speech.
Dorries proposes replacing the OSA with a child-protection-focused bill, such as the UK Freedom of Speech Bill proposed by the Adam Smith Institute, which aligns with U.S. free speech standards to enhance cross-border law enforcement cooperation.
The Freedom of Speech Bill would harmonize UK online laws with U.S. standards, removing legal obstacles like those in the Communications Act 2003 and Public Order Act 1986, to facilitate faster data sharing and arrests under agreements like the CLOUD Act.
The article criticizes Ofcom as a censorship agency rather than a law enforcement body, arguing that the OSA's approach prioritizes controlling online content over addressing criminal behavior through law enforcement, which is seen as ineffective for public safety.
A 'law enforcement-first' approach is advocated, emphasizing that maximizing free speech and police capability to arrest criminals is better for safety than censorship, and that harmonizing laws internationally can protect civil liberties while improving deterrents against online threats.

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