CPJ warns of threats that UK’s draft Online Safety Bill proposes to press freedom

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) criticises the UK’s draft Online Safety Bill, as it imposes several threats to press freedom. The proposed legislation could censor news coverage on immigration issues and undermine private communication. Although the bill does not prohibit encryption, public and private messages are subject to its content restrictions.

According to the Global Partners Digital group, the online safety bill continues to delegate decisions about illegal content to private platforms, effectively privatising the function of law enforcement and encouraging excessive censorship of appropriate information.

CPJ issues a warning that the law may allow for the global, as well as domestic, surveillance of journalists and their private conversations with sources.