Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has raised serious concerns that the UK’s Online Safety Act could significantly infringe on freedom of speech. This warning comes amid a growing backlash over the law’s new enforcement measures, particularly around protecting children from harmful content online.
In a public statement, X said that although the act has “laudable” intentions, it is being implemented by Ofcom in a way that may jeopardize public free expression. “Many are now concerned that a plan ostensibly intended to keep children safe is at risk of seriously infringing on the public’s right to free expression,” the platform stated.
The UK government responded by calling the claims “demonstrably false,” stressing that the Online Safety Act also includes legal obligations for tech firms to protect freedom of expression alongside child safety.
X further argued that lawmakers made a “conscientious decision” to increase censorship through the act and questioned whether the British public fully understood this trade-off. The platform claimed the act’s broad regulatory powers risk suppressing legitimate speech under the guise of online protection.
The act came under renewed scrutiny on July 25 after rules restricting under-18s from accessing pornography and harmful content took effect. Musk has since condemned the law, calling it a tool for “suppression of the people,” and retweeted a petition urging its repeal, which has attracted over 450,000 signatures.
In line with the new rules, X has begun age-restricting some content. The Reform UK party has promised to repeal the law entirely, prompting political controversy. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle accused Nigel Farage of siding with convicted pedophile Jimmy Savile for supporting the repeal—a remark Farage called “below the belt.”
X also criticized Ofcom for taking a “heavy-handed” approach, citing its rapid expansion of enforcement resources and growing bureaucracy. The platform warned that threats of fines—as high as 10% of global turnover—may incentivize excessive censorship.
Another key concern raised by X is the UK’s plan to launch a national internet intelligence investigations team to monitor social media for anti-migrant activity. X says the move exceeds the act’s safety aims and poses further risks to freedom of speech.
Ofcom insists the act safeguards free expression and only mandates restrictions on criminal or harmful content for children. The government echoed this, saying companies could face penalties for failing to uphold either obligation—protecting children and protecting speech.
