Farage’s Call to Scrap the Online Safety Act Turns Up the Heat in UK Politics
Nigel Farage isn’t backing down on one of Reform UK’s more controversial campaign pledges: tearing up the UK’s new Online Safety Act. It’s not just another technical law. Kicked into action on 25 July 2025, this piece of legislation demands tech companies do much more to protect kids and the public—and hits them with brutal fines up to £18 million, or 10% of global turnover, if they mess up.
On paper, it looks like a crackdown for a digital age. Platforms now have to verify users’ ages, hide content classed as harmful to children, and flag illegal stuff before it has a chance to spread. The government’s message is clear: online predators and scammers should have nowhere to hide, and young users should see less of the worst the internet can serve up.
But Farage and Reform UK call the law a mess. They argue it’s heavy-handed, a threat to free speech and open debate. For them, the Online Safety Act doesn’t just make life tougher for abusers and trolls—it silences honest voices critical of the government. And when it comes to protecting children, Farage’s crew says the law is little more than ‘theatre.’ Their big point: any teenager can grab a VPN, sidestep age gates, or end up in scarier corners of the internet like the dark web with a few taps. So, is it working, or just making us feel safer?
Political Firestorm and the Clash Over Child Safety
The debate went nuclear this week after Science Secretary Peter Kyle launched a wild accusation: by backing repeal, Farage is standing with predators, even name-checking figures as notorious as the late Jimmy Savile. Farage hit back, demanding an apology, while former Brexit lead Lord David Frost weighed in, calling Kyle’s comments ‘shameful’—saying they poison a badly needed debate about free speech and digital rights.
Kyle and his backers insist the Act is already working by clamping down on strangers messaging kids and keeping harmful material less accessible. For them, rolling back protections would be a gift to abusers. Reform UK, buoyed by dazzling poll numbers, says the government is hiding behind ‘think-of-the-children’ panic to dodge real talk about freedom and censorship.
The controversy isn’t just about tech policy, though. It’s a window into a tangled world where safety, censorship, and political point-scoring all collide. As parents, activists, and ordinary web users pick sides, one thing’s clear: the fight over speech and safety online is just warming up—and Farage’s bet that the country is ready for a rethink is putting his party in the spotlight.
- The Online Safety Act enforces strict content regulations and hefty fines for tech companies.
- Reform UK claims age checks are easy for teens to skip using VPNs or other tools.
- Political leaders are trading fierce accusations, with the issue cutting straight to questions of censorship versus protection.
- With a passionate debate unfolding, the next government will face pressure to decide how the UK polices speech and safety on the internet.