UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended the country’s commitment to free speech, responding to accusations made by senior US officials. His remarks came after sharp criticism from US Vice President J.D. Vance, who accused the UK and several European countries of limiting freedom of expression.
During a meeting in the Oval Office on February 27 with President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Starmer, Vance noted that the “special relationship” between the US and the UK does not prevent acknowledging existing issues. “We know that violations of free speech affect not just Americans but Britons as well,” he said.
American political criticism of Starmer intensified following comments by Elon Musk. The CEO of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) had earlier accused British authorities of monitoring citizens’ beliefs and prosecuting individuals for social media posts. Musk referred to incidents linked to hate speech laws, particularly highlighted after a tragic stabbing attack last summer that left three young women dead.
The UK’s Commitment to Free Speech Enshrined in Law
Responding to the criticism, Starmer emphasized that free speech is deeply rooted in British history and robustly protected by law.
“Freedom of speech has existed in the United Kingdom for a very long time and will continue to exist for a very long time. I am proud of our history in this area,” he told reporters.
Provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, incorporated into UK law, provide comprehensive guarantees of freedom of expression. Article 9 protects the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; Article 10 protects freedom of expression; and Article 11 guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.
Nevertheless, some legislative provisions continue to spark debates about potential restrictions on free expression.
Hate Speech Laws and Online Safety
British hate speech legislation imposes criminal liability for actions that may incite violence or hatred based on race, religion, or other forms of discrimination. Specifically, the Public Order Act criminalizes threats intended to cause distress or promote terrorism.
Additionally, the newly enacted Online Safety Act aims, according to the government, to protect children and vulnerable groups from harmful online content.
“Platforms will be required to prevent children’s access to harmful and age-inappropriate content and provide parents and children with clear and accessible ways to report online problems,” the government said.
The law also mandates transparency in content moderation and empowers users to control the types of content they wish to see.
However, not everyone welcomed the new legislation. Civil liberties groups such as the Open Rights Group warn that the law could pose a “huge threat to freedom of expression.” They argue that technology companies would be forced to act as censors, removing content before publication to avoid penalties and sanctions.
Human rights experts have called for a thorough review of the new legislative measures to ensure compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Accusations Against the European Union
Beyond criticizing the UK, J.D. Vance also took aim at the European Union. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in February, he expressed concern over comments from some EU officials about potentially shutting down social media platforms during civil unrest.
“I look at Brussels, where EU commissioners are warning citizens that they intend to shut down platforms if they detect so-called ‘hateful content’,” Vance stated.
His comments appeared to reference remarks made by Thierry Breton, the former European Commissioner for Internal Market. Following mass riots in France in the summer of 2023 — sparked by the police shooting of teenager Nahel Merzouk in a Paris suburb — Breton said platforms could be blocked in extreme cases under the new EU Digital Services Act (DSA).
Europe Leads the US in Press Freedom Rankings
Despite ongoing criticism, international data shows that Europe continues to outperform the United States in terms of press freedom. According to the latest Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the UK ranks 23rd, while the US stands at 55th place.
Most EU member states also rank higher than the US. Only five out of 27 EU countries performed worse than the US: Bulgaria (59th), Cyprus (65th), Hungary (67th), Malta (73rd), and Greece (88th).
Thus, international rankings do not support the narrative of a severe free speech crisis in Europe, contrary to claims made by some American politicians and business leaders.