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Lord Leong (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 15 September 2025

Debate

Online Safety Act 2023: Virtual Private Networks

Contribution

My Lords, the UK has a proud and enduring tradition of free speech, and we remain fully committed to protecting it as a fundamental human right. In respect of the noble Lord’s question, I will have to write to him as to when Ofcom will make the classification. The Online Safety Act is not about censoring lawful opinions or stifling debate. Its purpose is to tackle illegal content and to ensure that children are better protected online. It does not and will not restrict lawful political speech or limit adults from accessing or posting content that is legal, even if others may find it offensive. Free speech in the UK is not only alive, it is safeguarded.

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