Everything the right - and the left – are getting wrong about the Online Safety Act | George Billinge

New limits on what can be seen online have drawn consternation from Nigel Farage and progressives alike. Yet much of it is based on misinformationGeorge Billinge is a former Ofcom policy managerLast week, the UK’s Online Safety Act came into force. It’s fair to say it hasn’t been smooth sailing. Donald Trump’s allies have dubbed it the “UK’s online censorship law”, and the technology secretary, Peter Kyle, added fuel to the fire by claiming that Nigel Farage’s opposition to the act put him “on the side” of Jimmy Savile.Disdain from the right isn’t surprising. After all, tech companies will now have to assess the risk their platforms pose of disseminating the kind of racist misinformation that fuelled last year’s summer riots. What has particularly struck me, though, is the backlash from progressive quarters. Online outlet Novara Media published an interview claiming the Online Safety Act compromises children’s safety. Politics Joe joked that the act involves “banning Pornhub”. New YouGov polling shows that Labour voters are even less likely to support age verification on porn websites than Conservative or Liberal Democrat voters.George Billinge is a former Ofcom policy manager and is CEO of tech consultancy Illuminate TechDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

Comments

Business News

Tech companies are racing to make their products smaller - and much, much thinner

Skynews

American Eagle responds to the controversy around its ad campaign with Sydney Sweeney: 'Great jeans look good on everyone'

about 8 hours ago

The economist who coined the acronym BRICS talks about how his original vision evolved

NPR

Comments

Similar News

Morecambe FC fans set to ‘lose everything’ without 11th-hour takeover

James Van Der Beek was 'doing everything' for his health. One subtle symptom revealed he had stage 3 colon cancer at 46.

Tariffs and judicial chaos shake investor confidence in Mexico: ‘Everything has been put on hold’

Inheritance tax and gifts: Everything you need to know

Everything new in Aldi's middle aisle on Sunday, July 27 - Pokémon and more

2025 Tour De France Femmes: Everything To Know Before The Grand Départ

Everything new coming to Aldi's middle aisle on Thursday, July 24

I've been an English teacher for 20 years, and my students are now relying on AI to do everything. It's making my job impossible.

Bargain supermarket launches giant Lionesses sale where EVERYTHING is £1 or less ahead of Euros final this weekend

Rebecca Yarros' bestselling fantasy book 'Fourth Wing' is being turned into a TV show. Here's everything we know so far.

Everything Trump Has Done That Critics Say Is Meant To Distract From Epstein Scandal

Everything we know about 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' so far, from casting to a release date

State pension: How to check yours, how to buy missing years and everything you need to know

What is Mistral AI? Everything to know about the OpenAI competitor

CC Sabathia On Being Inducted Into Baseball Hall Of Fame With Ex-Yankees Teammate Ichiro Suzuki: ‘Everything Comes Full Circle’

The 'Stranger Things' season 5 trailer teases a final showdown with Vecna. Here's everything we know about the end of the hit Netflix series.

Amazon launched 30 years ago with one product. Now it's an empire that sells everything.

'Stylish' Debenhams £660 men's watch that 'suits everything' now £86

2025 Federal Hiring Freeze: Everything You Need To Know About New Dates And Restrictions

Everything we know about Sarah J. Maas' next 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' book so far

Business News

Tech companies are racing to make their products smaller - and much, much thinner

‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Box Office Taking Steep Dive In 2nd Weekend

Demi Lovato Makes ‘Fast’ Return To Pop Music With New Single

Nationwide will pay £760 into accounts of customers who do one thing

Would you trust an economist with your economy?

Tech manufacturing has powered Asia - now it's a casualty of Trump's tariffs

American Eagle responds to critics over ad with Sydney Sweeney, saying it was always about the jeans

AMA and other medical associations are kicked out of CDC vaccine workgroups

What consumers can expect from import taxes as the US sets new tariff rates

Lesotho's textile factories face closures despite US tariff cut

Who is Erika McEntarfer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner fired by Trump?

Columbia Sportswear sues Columbia University over merch in latest legal battle for Ivy

Today’s Wordle #1505 Hints And Answer For Saturday, August 2nd

When Is Body Horror Thriller ‘Together’ Coming To Streaming?

WWE Superstars Becky Lynch Is Set To Introduce New Entrance Music

As Trump hikes tariffs, B.C. jobs minister urges Carney to ‘negotiate hard’

Big Box Store Sam’s Club Joins IndyCar’s Andretti Global Racing

July Jobs Report Casts New Warning On Immigration And Worker Declines

Interview: Superman Wētā VFX Supervisor Guy Williams On DC Worldbuilding

When Is ‘The Bad Guys 2’ Coming To Streaming?

Lyme Disease Nearly Ended Justin Timberlake’s Tour: What You Need To Know

Lina Kahn is taking a victory lap over the Figma IPO

Trump's tariffs are (still) coming

Saskatoon company launches Saskatchewan’s 1st corporate child care program

Canada should ‘stand up’ to U.S. after Trump tariff hike, B.C. forestry exec says

A raging Trump digs in on his trade war after brutal jobs report

Zillow hit with federal copyright lawsuit over 47K allegedly stolen property photos

Meta dishes out $250M to lure 24-year-old AI whiz kid: ‘We have reached the climax of ‘Revenge of the Nerds’

Engineering students build innovative 3D-printed drone that can switch between water and air

UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card: Odds, Predictions, Prop Bets And Picks

6 Exciting New Netflix Movies In August 2025

‘The Naked Gun’: What Happens In End-Credits And Post-Credits Scenes?

New Album ‘Strange Hours’ Brings Eli Young Band Full-Circle

James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Cracks $300 Million At Domestic Box Office

Trump Fires Senior Labor Official Over Jobs Numbers

Inside The Troubled Road To Micah Parson’s Trade Request

Investment trusts rise up from the ashes

Watch shares plummet as tariffs hurt Switzerland

Donald Trump hits out at Federal Reserve as US jobs fall

Euronext eyes Stock Exchange bid amid deals frenzy

ALEX BRUMMER: Donald Trump's deals are a global blow

RAY MASSEY: Genesis G80 is a swish, smooth sensation

A Federal Reserve governor just said she's resigning early, giving Trump a chance to put even more pressure on Powell

Your chats with Meta's AI might end up on Google &mdash; just like ChatGPT until it turned them off

I'm a New Yorker who went to Montreal for the first time, and 5 things surprised me

American Eagle responds to the controversy around its ad campaign with Sydney Sweeney: 'Great jeans look good on everyone'

The economist who coined the acronym BRICS talks about how his original vision evolved

Could higher tariffs mean more layoffs in Canada? What industry experts say

Calgary home sales fall 12 per cent in July as inventory reaches pre-pandemic highs

Trump says he will fire lead official on economic data as stocks shudder

Car finance payouts have been limited, but lenders aren't off the hook

Ahead of Trump’s Trade Deadline, Firms Rushed Goods Out of Duty-Free Warehouses

Michael Cardozo, 84, New York City’s Longest-Serving Chief Lawyer, Dies

Fed Governor Resigns, Giving Trump Opportunity to Shape Central Bank

Trump, Claiming Weak Jobs Numbers Were ‘Rigged,’ Moves to Fire Labor Official

Lenders do not owe millions compensation over car finance, Supreme Court rules

Jury orders Tesla to pay more than $200 million in Autopilot crash case

Your chats with Meta's AI might end up on Google — just like ChatGPT until it turned them off