Peter Kyle Accuses Farage of Backing ‘Extreme Pornographers’ Over Online Safety Law Repeal Pledge
Farage Under Fire Over Reform UK’s Plan to Scrap Online Safety Act
UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has sparked a major political storm by accusing Nigel Farage of siding with “extreme pornographers” following Reform UK’s pledge to repeal the Online Safety Act if it wins power.
Kyle’s remarks came during a heated exchange on Sky News, where he slammed Farage’s party for “standing with the abusers” rather than prioritising child safety online. The Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, introduced wide-ranging rules to hold tech companies accountable for hosting harmful and illegal content online.
Farage has branded the law “draconian”, warning that it creates a pathway to censorship and surveillance. Reform UK says it would repeal the legislation immediately if it forms a government, calling the current framework “borderline dystopian.”
Reform UK’s Position: Scrap the Law, Start Fresh
In a press conference on Monday, Farage and his senior advisor Zia Yusuf laid out their vision for online regulation, promising to rethink how to protect children from harmful content — including material relating to suicide and self-harm — without what they see as government overreach.
However, when pressed, Reform UK leaders did not provide clear alternatives to how protections would be maintained if the law is repealed.
“We’ll find another way,” said Yusuf, “but this law is not the answer. It gives the state and unaccountable regulators too much power over speech.”
Farage added that the legislation poses a threat to freedom of expression, especially on controversial issues, and could force platforms into excessive content takedown practices, even on legitimate political debate.
Kyle’s Fierce Response: “Farage Is Not on the Side of Children”
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle reacted swiftly, taking to the airwaves and social media to condemn the repeal pledge in the strongest possible terms.
“Nigel Farage is on the side of extreme pornographers. He is siding with the same online forces that platform predators like Jimmy Savile and other dangerous offenders,” Kyle said on Sky News.
He argued that scrapping the Online Safety Act would open the floodgates for child exploitation, online grooming, extremist propaganda, and other threats, claiming it would make the UK “a haven for online abuse.”
Kyle went further, accusing Farage of “trivialising the risks” faced by young internet users and ignoring the real-world consequences of digital harm.
Farage Hits Back: “A Disgusting Smear”
Farage swiftly rebuked Kyle’s remarks, calling them “disgusting and defamatory,” and demanded a public apology.
“To compare me to someone like Jimmy Savile or claim I support pornographers is absolutely disgraceful,” Farage said. “This kind of slander is exactly what’s wrong with modern politics.”
Farage insisted that Reform UK’s goal is to protect children, but not at the cost of civil liberties or turning Britain into a surveillance state.
He added that Kyle’s attack was a distraction from the government’s failure to deliver results under the current law, which has faced criticism over slow implementation and unclear guidance for tech firms.
What the Online Safety Act Actually Does
Passed in 2023, the Online Safety Act aims to make the internet safer by placing new legal responsibilities on tech companies to monitor and remove harmful content, especially material targeting children. Key provisions include:
- Mandatory age verification for access to adult content.
- Requirements for platforms to proactively remove illegal material, such as child sexual abuse images, terrorist propaganda, and hate speech.
- Fines of up to 10% of global turnover for non-compliance.
- Criminal liability for senior executives in extreme cases of neglect.
Supporters say it’s a long-overdue move to bring the digital world in line with real-world protections. Critics argue the law risks overregulation, potentially leading to over-censorship and harming smaller online platforms.
Experts Weigh In
Digital rights advocates and online safety campaigners are deeply divided over the act—and by extension, Reform UK’s position.
Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, called Reform UK’s repeal plan “irresponsible,” warning that it would reverse years of progress on internet safety.
“The act is not perfect, but repealing it without a viable replacement is reckless,” Ahmed said. “It would signal to the worst elements of the web that the UK is open for abuse.”
However, Matthew Lesh, director of public policy at the Institute of Economic Affairs, supported Reform UK’s concerns, saying the act was “fundamentally flawed” and poses serious risks to freedom of speech.
“It creates vague, subjective standards around harmful but legal content and empowers regulators to suppress legitimate discourse under the guise of safety,” Lesh said.
Public and Political Reactions
The public debate is gaining steam online, with social media split between those applauding Kyle’s firm stance on child protection and others defending Farage’s civil liberties argument.
Opposition MPs have taken differing views, with some Liberal Democrats calling for tougher enforcement of the Online Safety Act, while a handful of Conservative backbenchers expressed concerns about regulatory overreach.
Labour insiders say Kyle’s remarks were part of a broader strategy to frame Reform UK as out of touch with mainstream British values ahead of the next general election.
What’s Next?
With digital regulation now becoming a key battleground in UK politics, it’s likely the Online Safety Act will remain a hot topic through the 2025 election season.
Labour is expected to defend and possibly expand the act’s enforcement measures, while Reform UK is likely to double down on its freedom-focused narrative.
As the political temperature rises, so too will the scrutiny on how both parties plan to protect children online—without sacrificing either safety or speech.