Reform UK vows to repeal ‘borderline dystopian’ Online Safety Act | Reform UK

Reform UK has promised to repeal the Online Safety Act, arguing that measures supposed to push social media corporations to restrict false and doubtlessly dangerous content material would as a substitute make the UK “a borderline dystopian state”.

At a press convention in Westminster billed as discussing crime, Nigel Farage and his shut aide Zia Yusuf as a substitute spent a lot of the time discussing the act, which got here into drive final week, and notably its strategy in direction of social media.

Farage additionally leaned extra closely than regular into language on migration. Echoing the far proper, he mentioned the arrival of individuals from sure nations was accountable for a rise within the variety of rapes and sexual assaults within the UK.

Farage and Yusuf mentioned a Reform authorities would instantly repeal the Online Safety Act and search different methods to duplicate its efforts in defending youngsters from dangerous content material, for instance about suicide. They mentioned they didn’t but understand how this could be performed.

“So much of the act is massive overreach and plunges this country into a borderline dystopian state,” mentioned Yusuf, who was the occasion chair and now leads a group in search of efficiencies in councils the occasion runs.

Powers given to the media regulator, Ofcom, to levy fines for dangerous content material would “force social media companies to censor anti-government speech”, Yusuf claimed, saying even X, which is run by Elon Musk, can be compelled to curb freedom of speech.

“Any student of history will know that the way countries slip into this sort of authoritarian regime is through legislation that cloaks tyranny inside the warm fuzz of safety and security and hopes nobody reads the small print,” Yusuf mentioned.

Quizzed concerning the elements of the act supposed to protect youngsters from dangerous content material, reminiscent of age verification, Yusuf mentioned it was pointless as a result of they might merely use VPN proxy servers to log in as in the event that they had been outdoors the UK.

Asked how Reform would shield youngsters, Farage conceded he didn’t know, however mentioned his occasion had experience not obtainable to the present authorities.

“Can I stand here and say that we have a perfect answer for you right now? No,” he mentioned. “Can I say that as a party, we have more access to some of the best tech brains, not just in the country, but in the world? That I can say to you.”

Asked concerning the act earlier than a gathering in Scotland with Donald Trump, Keir Starmer mentioned it was “not censoring anyone” and was merely supposed to guard youngsters from dangerous content material, notably about suicide.

Starmer mentioned the UK had had free speech “for a very long time”, including: “We’re very, very proud of it, we will protect it for ever.”

The press convention was ostensibly held to current Colin Sutton, a retired detective, as Reform’s guide on crime and policing, however Farage talked at size about migration and sought to hyperlink it to crime.

He mentioned there was “an alarming parallel between the extraordinary increase in the number of reported rapes and the wholly irresponsible immigration and asylum policies pursued by first Labour and then by Conservative governments”.

It was time to debate “the fact we want the right types of people from different countries coming into Britain, not the wrong types of people”, he mentioned.

He highlighted arrivals from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Eritrea as being “countries in which women aren’t even second-class citizens”. He mentioned: “We will be talking over the next couple of weeks about the direct link between people like that from those backgrounds and the rise in sexual violence against women and girls in this country.”

Farage gave no proof to help the claims.

Responding to the pledge to repeal the Online Safety Act, the Molly Rose Foundation, which campaigns on suicide prevention and on-line dangers, pointed to polling suggesting it was standard with voters.

“Scrapping the Online Safety Act would be a retrograde move that would not only put children at greater risk but is out of step with the mood of the public,” mentioned Andy Burrows, the inspiration’s chief government.