- U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized the U.K.'s hate speech policies, stating they infringe on free speech and affect American technology companies and citizens.
- The U.K.'s Online Safety Act, which grants authorities power to regulate online content, has drawn criticism for stifling dissent and empowering state control over speech.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the U.K.'s approach, asserting that free speech remains a cornerstone of British society.
- Vance highlighted growing transatlantic tensions over the U.K.'s controversial Online Safety Act and its implications for free expression in Britain and beyond.
- The criticism underscores the U.S. administration's concerns about the erosion of democratic norms in Europe, particularly regarding free speech and religious rights.
In a striking rebuke of the United Kingdom's increasingly restrictive hate speech policies, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has openly criticized what he describes as "infringements on free speech" during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's first official visit to Washington.
"We do have, of course, a special relationship with our friends in the U.K. and also with some of our European allies. But we also know that there have been infringements on free speech that actually affect not just the British," Vance stated.
"Of course, what the British do in their own country is up to them. But [such infringements] also affect American technology companies and, by extension, American citizens."
The vice president's remarks delivered during a high-profile press briefing highlight the far-reaching consequences of the U.K.’s censorship measures, which have drawn widespread condemnation from free speech advocates and international observers alike. They also underscore growing transatlantic tensions over Downing Street's controversial Online Safety Act and its broader implications for free expression, both in Britain and beyond.
Starmer defended London's approach, insisting that free speech remains a cornerstone of British society. "We've had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom – and it will last for a very, very long time," he asserted.
However, the British leader appears to be clueless about – or deliberately ignorant of – mounting evidence that the U.K.'s hate speech laws are being used to suppress legitimate expression, from religious views to political dissent. Cases of police officers visiting Britons at their houses over their social media posts have been documented for some time now.
From Washington to London: The transatlantic debate on FREE SPEECH
The U.K.'s Online Safety Act, which grants authorities sweeping powers to regulate online content, has been a lightning rod for controversy. Critics argue that the law stifles dissent and empowers the state to police speech in ways that are fundamentally at odds with democratic principles.
Vance's comments during Starmer's two-day visit to Washington – from Tuesday, Feb. 25, to Thursday, Feb. 27 – echo his earlier remarks at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. The former Ohio senator accused European governments, including the U.K., of undermining democratic values through excessive censorship. (Related: Vance slams Europe's "Orwellian" speech laws, warns of strained U.S.-EU relations.)
"The threat I worry the most about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia, it's not China, it's not any other external actor," Vance said in Munich. "What I worry about is the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values."
During the conference, Vance specifically targeted London for what he called a "backsliding on religious rights" and the chilling effect of its hate speech laws on public discourse. His insistence on addressing the matter during Starmer's visit underscores the second Trump administration's broader concerns about the erosion of democratic norms in Europe—a theme he has consistently emphasized since taking office.
"We're simply telling them to respect the values on which our civilization was founded," Vance said in a recent interview with the National Pulse, reiterating his stance on free speech. "You ought to debate with one another, your government should respect when the people have a dissenting viewpoint. It's very simple, and it's very obvious."
Vance's outspoken criticism serves as a stark reminder that the U.K.'s Orwellian hate speech laws are not just a domestic issue – they have repercussions on both sides of the Atlantic. For now, the question remains whether Starmer's government will heed these warnings or continue down a path that risks alienating its closest ally.
Watch this news report about U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he denounces censorship and other "undemocratic" acts by Europe's governments.
This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Germany's war on free speech: Dawn raids and heavy fines for online "insults."
The new Iron Curtain: How Europe's speech crackdown threatens American freedoms.
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