Online Safety: Fears Over Law's Effect on Palestinian Content

The Online Safety Act, together with the proscription of Palestine Action, could result in platforms censoring Palestinian-related content, human rights organisations have warned.

- Haroon Siddique

Open Rights Group, Index on Censorship, and others have written to Ofcom, calling on it to provide clear guidance to platforms on distinguishing lawful expression from content deemed to be in support of terrorism.

They say failure to act by the regulator risks misidentification—including through algorithms—of support for Palestine as support for Palestine Action, which on 5 July became the first direct action protest group to be banned under UK anti-terrorism laws.

It also runs the risk of misidentifying objections to Palestine Action's proscription as unlawful support for the group, the signatories claim.