Is criticism of the Online Safety Act actually right wing?

August 07, 2025

Pod Save the UK

Pod Save the UK

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In This Episode

This week – we’re talking about the internet, Coco’s proclivities toward the disembodied voice of Pedro Pascal and Nish’s struggles to find any time to work on himself. Strap in – it’s a juicy one.

Nish and Coco are joined by technology journalist Chris Stokel-Walker to make sense of the UK’s new online safety laws – which restrict access to harmful and inappropriate content for young people – while simultaneously clamping down on free speech and digital privacy. The conversation is becoming a culture war topic – but are the political class actually having a sensible discussion about this seismic, world’s-first legislation?

And – guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission could see trans people excluded from public life. And now it might become law – with no debate, no scrutiny and no vote. We’ll be speaking to journalist Freddy McConnell about the risk to all of our rights and how we can fight back.

And later – we’re getting Jezzy with it – we dive into the mailbag to hear your thoughts on the party definitely not called “your party”.

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Freddy’s latest article

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/31/transgender-rights-ehrc-guidance-single-sex-spaces