The US President’s administration has issued a stern warning to Sir Keir Starmer over “free speech” and to not censor American tech firms.
This comes as Starmer’s government introduced the Online Safety Act last week putting in place verification barriers and age restrictions to thousands of websites including social media sites.
US officials have informed the British government that they are closely monitoring the UK’s ongoing developments with “great interest and concern.”
A US State Department official told The Telegraph, “President Trump has made it clear that free speech is one of our most cherished freedoms as Americans.
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Accordingly, we have taken decisive action against foreign actors who have engaged in extraterritorial censorship affecting our companies and fellow citizens.
We will continue to monitor developments in the UK with great interest and concern.
The US President who was at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland on Monday was asked by reporters his thoughts over the UK government’s “new powers to censor” his Truth Social platform, he said, “I don’t think he’s going to censor my site because I say only good things.”
Trump then jokingly asked Starmer, “please uncensor my site,” the Prime Minister said “we’re not censoring anyone,” he added, “We’ve got measures which are there to protect children … from sites like suicide sites”.
(It’s) nothing about censoring free speech,” Starmer added.
“Free speech in this country has been for a very long time … we’re very proud of it … I don’t see that as a free speech issue.”
“I cannot imagine him censoring Truth Social,” Trump added.
It’s been a very big success… I only say good things about him and his country so if they censor me then you’re making a mistake.”
