The News Agents Why is the US lecturing Britain on free speech?
75 snips
Aug 13, 2025 
Joining the conversation are Natasha Clark, LBC's political editor, who breaks down the U.S. State Department's criticisms of the UK's free speech limitations, and Mark Galeotti, a historian specializing in Russia, who shares insights on the upcoming Trump-Putin summit. They tackle the implications of the Online Safety Act, explore the complex dynamics of freedom of expression, and scrutinize the geopolitical strategies affecting Ukraine amid heightened tensions. It's a riveting discussion filled with current affairs and the challenges of democratic ideals.
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US Report Highlights UK Free-Speech Concerns
- The US State Department's Human Rights Report flagged the UK for backsliding on free speech across multiple areas.
- Natasha Clarke argues the report compiles many UK controversies into a single critique with US administration influence.
Online Safety Act At Center Of Criticism
- The report singles out the Online Safety Act as a driver of perceived speech restrictions.
- Clarke notes the Act's recent enforcement fuels debate about whether online regulation overreaches.
Contempt Laws Clash With Digital Media
- UK contempt laws and geo-blocking of the New Yorker on the Letby story are used as examples of limits on expression.
- Clarke says those laws were designed to protect fair trials but look outdated in social-media era.
