The UK government’s threats to free speech aren’t yet thwarted

The UK’s controversial censorship bill, called the “Online Safety Bill” could be ditched if it does not go through the House of Commons soon, according to internal government documents.

The bill aims at making the internet safer for kids but has wide-reaching implications against free speech that have concerned civil liberties groups.

The bill has been delayed several times. Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan recently promised to bring the bill to the House of Commons this month after making amendments to the “legal but harmful” section of the bill, which has raised free speech concerns. But even with those changes, the bill is still a major threat to free speech in a country that is already severely lacking free speech protections.

There are concerns that if the bill does not go through the House of Commons by Christmas it will never pass.

…