Musk's X slams Britain's new online safety law

The UK govt on Saturday defended a new online safety law following harsh criticism from social network X, saying it was "demonstrably false" that it "compromises free speech".

Under the law, which took effect on July 25, online platforms must take steps to prevent children accessing harmful content such as pornography.

But X said Friday that "the act's laudable intentions are at risk of being overshadowed by the breadth of its regulatory reach.

"Without a more balanced, collaborative approach, free speech will suffer," added the platform, formerly known as Twitter, saying regulators had taken a "heavy-handed approach".

The govt countered that "as well as legal duties to keep children safe, the very same law places clear and unequivocal duties on platforms to protect freedom of expression".