• X, the social media platform by Elon Musk, alleges that the UK's Online Safety Act threatens free speech.
• The UK government asserts that the law does not compromise freedom of expression and is essential for child protection.
• The Online Safety Act requires age verification for pornography access and holds platforms liable for non-compliance.
• X describes the government's approach as heavy-handed and calls for a more balanced regulatory strategy.
• The law has led to a significant rise in VPN usage as users seek workarounds.

Elon Musk's social media platform X has publicly criticized the UK's new Online Safety Act, claiming it poses a threat to free speech. X stated that the law's "laudable intentions are at risk of being overshadowed by the breadth of its regulatory reach," urging for a more balanced approach to oversight that protects individual liberties while ensuring child safety, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

In response, the UK government defended the Online Safety Act, stating it is "demonstrably false" that the law compromises free speech. Officials emphasized that while the act mandates measures to protect children from harmful content, it simultaneously includes clear responsibilities to uphold freedom of expression. The government noted that the law does not require platforms to age-gate all content, but rather only that which poses significant risks to minors, according to India Times and The Jakarta Post.

The Online Safety Act, effective since July 25, includes strict requirements for age verification on platforms, risking fines up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue for non-compliance. X has begun implementing age verification measures, albeit reluctant, in an effort to comply with the law, as public concern grows over the potential impact on user privacy and freedom, according to Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.

Reports indicate an increase in the usage of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) among users seeking to bypass these new regulations. VPN download rates surged, with some applications experiencing an 1,800% rise in popularity following the announcement of the Online Safety Act, highlighting public discontent towards perceived overreach by regulators, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.