In vindication of U.S. Vice President JD Vance's warnings of encroaching authoritarianism in Britain and Europe, a report has found that hundreds of people in the United Kingdom have been charged under the 2023 Online Safety Act, including for spreading "fake news." The post UK 1984: Hundreds Charged in Britain for Speech Crimes Under Orwellian Online Safety Act appeared first on Breitbart.
Hundreds of individuals in the UK have been charged under the 2023 Online Safety Act, with 292 facing charges for "speech crimes," including 23 for spreading "fake news." Notably, some were charged for false claims related to a mass stabbing incident. The law also addresses offenses like threatening communications, revenge porn, and cyberflashing. Ofcom can impose fines of up to 10% of a platform's global revenue for non-compliance. The law has sparked concerns, particularly regarding its impact on trade with the US, as it may target American social media companies. Critics, including JD Vance and Lord Young, argue it stifles free speech, while the UK government defends it as a measure to protect the public from online harm.