In-depth articles explaining UK speech laws in plain English. Covers the Communications Act, Public Order Act, Online Safety Act, defamation, hate speech, and more. Written for journalists, content creators, and anyone publishing in the UK.
9 July 2026
For the first time, UK law requires platforms to protect users from illegal content and harm. It is not optional — it is a legal duty enforced by OFCOM with fines up to 10 percent of global turnover.
Read Article9 July 2026
You don't need to intend to cause harassment, alarm, or distress — and nobody needs to actually experience it. Section 5 is the broadest public order offence, and it's the one most people encounter. Here's how it works.
Read Article9 July 2026
If your behaviour was reasonable in the circumstances, you are not guilty — even if someone was caused harassment, alarm, or distress. The reasonable conduct defence is the most important protection in the Public Order Act.
Read Article9 July 2026
Inciting racial hatred can be done through abusive or insulting words. Inciting religious hatred requires threatening words. That gap was put there by Parliament on purpose — after a House of Lords rebellion led by Rowan Atkinson.
Read Article9 July 2026
You can mock a religion. You can ridicule its beliefs. You can satirise its leaders. UK law explicitly protects all of this. The line is drawn at threats — and that line was fought for by Rowan Atkinson.
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