Government’s Kafkaesque plans for regulating online speech is condemned

Responding to the Online Safety Bill, Jim Killock, Executive Director of Open Rights Group said:

“Treating online speech as inherently dangerous and demanding that risks are eliminated under the threat of massive fines is only going to end up in over-reaction and content removal. 

“This is a flawed approach which makes no attempt to bring law breakers to justice. Instead it tries to put the problem solely on the shoulders of platforms. But Facebook is not the police and does not operate prisons. 

“It also pushes for lawful content, including in private messages sent through these platforms, to be monitored and scoured for alleged risks. The idea that private messages should be routinely checked and examined is extraordinary.

“This is a litmus test for the Conservative Party and the Prime Minister over how committed they are to the principles of free speech.”