Lord Young of Acton (Con): My Lords, I declare my interest as the director of the Free Speech Union.

UK — Parliament · 2026-03-16 · UK · verified record

Themes: Child safety & minors · Online platforms · Search services

My Lords, I declare my interest as the director of the Free Speech Union. It is not particularly helpful to accuse those who have expressed concern that this definition will operate like a Muslim blasphemy law by the backdoor of spreading dangerous disinformation, not least because knowingly spreading dangerous disinformation is a criminal offence under Section 179 of the Online Safety Act. Suggesting that those who raise the alarm about the chilling effect of this definition on free speech should be prosecuted makes the point far more eloquently than we could. I note that when the Communities

Statement The following Statement was made in the House of Commons on Monday 9 March. “With permission, I will make a Statement on the Government’s action plan for social cohesion entitled Protecting What Matters. Britain has faced global crises at many moments in our history; we got through them by staying strong and united. Today, we navigate new threats to our communities and families. We must stand together once again against those who seek to divide and weaken us. They want to sow division in our streets, our neighbourhoods, our homes and our minds. They feed off deliberate misinformation…