Britain’s Ofcom Leads Global Push for Online Censorship in 2025
The British regulator Ofcom is leading the push for expanded global online regulation, raising concerns about cross-border censorship and expanded regulatory powers.
Ofcom (the Office of Communications) is more active than ever: The agency recently began enforcing a controversial online safety law and will chair the Global Online Safety Regulators Network for a second time in 2025.
The network was founded two years ago and includes 25 members and observers dedicated to the topic of “online safety” – or, as some would say, “mainstream censorship”. Earlier this month, the network released its first annual report and strategic plan for 2025-2027.
The documents outline the group’s goals, which are primarily focused on expanding global online censorship. This will be achieved by harmonizing the regulations of participating countries (“building regulatory coherence across jurisdictions”), as well as by law enforcement cooperation and information sharing.
In addition to Ofcom, members include the Australian eSafety Commissioner and regulators from countries such as Fiji, France, Ireland, South Korea, Slovakia, South Africa and the Netherlands. Observer status is granted to organisations from the US, UK, Canada and other countries.
Members meet certain criteria, including existing “online safety” laws, as well as vaguely defined requirements such as “independence from political and commercial interference” and a “commitment” to the rule of law, democracy and human rights.
The network’s priorities are divided into “thematic” areas. One of these is the aforementioned “coherence” – or, as critics might say, “collusion” – in regulation across national borders. This priority aims to provide a legal basis for increased online censorship.
Another aim is to lay the groundwork for future regulations. To this end, the network aims to strengthen the “evidence base for online safety”. In this context, the search for an “evidence base” could provide regulators with legitimacy to take further action.
The network lists information exchange as its third “thematic priority”. According to a press release, “informal exchange” has been one of the most valuable aspects of the network’s work since its inception.
These exchanges are particularly important when it comes to tackling “transnational harm” or holding platforms accountable for “systemic non-compliance”.
Source: reclaimthenet.org/uks-ofcom-leads-global-push-for-online-censorship-in-2025
