US officials challenged Ofcom over free speech

US state department officials have challenged Britain's communications regulator over the impact on freedom of expression created by new online safety laws, the Guardian understands.

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A group of officials from the state department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) recently met with Ofcom in London. It is understood they raised the issue of the new Online Safety Act and how it risked infringing free speech.

The state department body later said that the meeting was part of its drive "to affirm the US commitment to defending freedom of expression, both in Europe and around the world". At the meeting, Ofcom officials said the new rules were only in place to deal with explicitly illegal content, as well as material that could be harmful to children.

Asked about the meeting, which is understood to have taken place in mid-March, a state department spokesperson said: "As Vice-president Vance has said, we are concerned about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom. It is important that the UK respect and protect freedom of expression." Details of the meeting emerged after Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, denied that concerns over free speech had featured in delicate tariff negotiations with the US.

There had been reports that a deal could be jeopardised over the case of anti-abortion campaigner Livia Tossici-Bolt, who was prosecuted for an alleged breach of a safe access zone outside a Bournemouth abortion clinic. The verdict is expected on Friday.