The leftist British government is considering revising online censorship rules to avoid a trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump. The Online Safety Act empowers Ofcom to fine tech companies for not self-censoring harmful content. Trump allies see these rules as a roadblock to a U.S.-UK trade deal.
Key Points
The Online Safety Act in the UK empowers Ofcom to fine tech companies for not self-censoring harmful content
Trump allies view these rules as a major impediment to a future U.S.-UK trade deal
Labour government's desire for more speech restrictions may conflict with easing rules for a trade deal
Pros
Avoiding a trade war with the U.S.
Revisiting and potentially easing online censorship rules
Cons
Potential backlash from leftist base in parliament
Concerns about restrictions on free speech and encryption technology