A recent report by The Telegraph detailed a secretive Whitehall unit tasked with monitoring online content critical of taxpayer-funded migrant hotels and “two-tier policing.” The outlet reported that Technology Secretary Peter Kyle flagged videos with “concerning narratives” to social media companies, including TikTok, and accused the platforms of “exacerbating tensions.”
Emails between the UK government and tech companies were revealed by a US congressional committee that showed civil servants complaining about content being posted. While the emails did not show the government asking for content to be removed, it requested that TikTok explain how it would respond.
A spokesperson for the US State Department told The Telegraph that “President Trump and Secretary [Marco] Rubio have taken a strong and unequivocal stand defending free speech, and have taken decisive action against foreign nationals who engage in censorship of Americans.”
“One of the reasons free speech is so important is that it enables citizens to have accurate information and honest conversations about policy failures of the ruling class – immigration is a prime example of this. We are monitoring free speech developments in the UK closely and with great concern,” the spokesperson added.
The UK’s National Security and Online Information Team (NSOIT) complained about posts critical of mass migration, as well as the migrant hotels. This team was formerly the Counter Disinformation Unit, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it monitored anti-lockdown campaigners.
Free speech concerns in the UK have been amplified due to a series of high-profile incidents in the UK involving individuals facing legal consequences over their online speech. One such case involved a retired police officer who was arrested after posting about rising antisemitism in the UK.
Earlier this year, US Vice President JD Vance warned of the deterioration of free speech across Western democracies during a speech at the Munich Security Conference. “Free speech, I fear, is in retreat,” Vance said at the time.
