The controversy arises after Preston Byrne, managing partner at the U.S. tech law firm Byrne & Storm, informed POLITICO that several American websites had directed him to file a lawsuit against the U.K.’s telecoms regulator Ofcom due to free speech issues.
“We will also pursue a declaratory judgment from a federal court to formally affirm that the Online Safety Act is null and void in the United States. Ideally, this will address the concern for the many American companies not yet targeted by Ofcom, which intended to do so until our clients intervened,” he stated.
Byrne mentioned supplying staffers on the House Judiciary Committee with relevant Ofcom documents he received. However, he noted the interaction was mostly “one-way” and clarified that he and Jim Jordan weren’t collaborating directly.
An Ofcom spokesperson stated on Friday: “The new rules mandate tech firms to address criminal content and shield children from specific harmful materials. There is no obligation for them to limit legal content for adults. In fact, they must thoughtfully balance protecting users’ rights to free expression with ensuring safety.”
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