Jess Phillips Criticizes Farage for Empowering Online Child Abusers

Labour's Home Office minister Jess Phillips has accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of endangering children by pledging to repeal the Online Safety Act, describing such a move as empowering "modern-day Jimmy Saviles." Phillips and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle have criticized Farage for opposing the legislation, which mandates online platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, including pornography and material encouraging suicide. Phillips highlighted the case of Alexander McCartney, a prolific online child abuser who groomed and blackmailed minors globally, leading to at least one suicide, to underscore the need for strong online protections. Farage argues that the legislation threatens freedom of speech and open debate, but Phillips contends that Farage prioritizes social media monetization over child safety. Reform UK has countered by criticizing Labour's past reluctance to pursue a national inquiry into grooming gangs and called Phillips' accusations "idiotic." The debate reflects broader tensions between safeguarding children online and concerns about free speech and regulation.