The UK's Online Safety Act has become a political battleground, with both the left and right failing to grasp its complexities. While intended to protect users from digital harms, the legislation risks stifling free expression and missing its mark on genuine online threats.
The Left's Blind Spot: Overlooking State Overreach
Progressive voices have largely welcomed the Act as a necessary step against hate speech and misinformation. Yet in their enthusiasm, they've ignored how these broad powers could be weaponised against marginalised communities. History shows that censorship tools created with good intentions often end up suppressing the very voices they aim to protect.
The Right's Hypocrisy: Demanding Regulation While Decrying 'Woke Censorship'
Conservative commentators rail against 'woke tech companies' while supporting legislation that gives those same companies more power to remove content. Their contradictory stance exposes a fundamental misunderstanding of how content moderation actually works in practice.
What's Being Missed
- The Act fails to distinguish between different types of platforms, treating all online spaces the same
- Encryption safeguards are being undermined in the name of child protection
- Smaller platforms may fold under compliance costs, further entrenching Big Tech's dominance
As the Act comes into force, both sides need to move beyond partisan talking points. The real challenge isn't left vs right, but finding balanced solutions that protect users without sacrificing digital freedoms.
