X Faces UK, Ireland Scrutiny Over Online Safety Laws

Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) has publicly criticized the UK’s new Online Safety Act, warning that its broad rules could lead to over-censorship and undermine free speech, while the UK government insists the law balances safety with freedom of expression. At the same time, X lost a High Court challenge in Ireland against the national media regulator’s online safety code, with the court confirming that the stricter content and age verification rules align with EU directives. In response to regulatory changes, X has introduced new age verification measures, such as facial recognition and ID uploads, across Ireland, the UK, and the EU to strengthen child protection. Both UK and Irish regulators are now investigating social media platforms to ensure compliance with these laws. These developments signal increased regulatory scrutiny of tech companies amid concerns over harmful online content. X continues to advocate for regulation that protects both children and free expression.