Fact Check: Attacks on Online Safety Act condemned by MPs (May 2025)

🗣️ The Claim

In May 2025, Nigel Farage called for the repeal of the Online Safety Act, arguing that it restricts free speech and gives government too much power to police the internet.

đź“Ť The Context

  • The Online Safety Act was passed to regulate harmful online content, particularly around child exploitation, terrorism, and disinformation.
  • Farage has positioned himself as a defender of “free speech,” framing the law as censorship.
  • His call for repeal came during wider Reform UK campaigning around personal freedoms and opposition to “woke” policies.

🔎 The Facts

  1. Purpose of the Act
    • The Act requires tech companies to remove illegal content (child abuse, terrorist material) and to tackle harmful but legal content more transparently.
    • It does not create blanket censorship of lawful political speech.
  2. Criticism & Debate
    • Free speech groups raised concerns about overreach, but the core provisions focus on child safety and harmful content.
    • The government and child protection charities argue it strengthens safeguards in an increasingly digital society.
  3. Parliamentary Response
    • Labour MP Jess Phillips and others condemned Farage’s stance.
    • Phillips compared the call for repeal to weakening protections against predators like Jimmy Savile, framing Farage’s position as reckless.
  4. Expert Opinion
    • Legal analysts say the law is not perfect and will face challenges in enforcement.
    • However, describing it as a simple free speech ban is misleading — it is primarily a regulatory framework for tech platforms.

âś… Verdict: Misleading

Farage’s claim that the Online Safety Act is simply a restriction on free speech is misleading. While debates about overreach exist, the Act’s main purpose is child protection and tackling illegal online content.

đź“š Sources