Russell Brand accuses UK Government of censorship in Online Safety Bill

Russell Brand has claimed the Online Safety Bill granted ‘sweeping surveillance’ and ‘censorship powers’, which led to the demonetisation of his YouTube channel.

The celebrity accused of sexual assualt by multiple women made the claims in a three-minute video posted on Rumble and X (formerly Twitter).

“By now you are probably aware that the British Government have asked big tech platforms to censor our online content and that some online platforms have complied with that request.

“What you may not know is that this happens in the context of the Online Safety Bill, which is a piece of UK legislation that grants sweeping surveillance and censorship powers, and it’s a law that has already been passed,” said Brand.

The UK Government passed the Bill earlier this month, but it has not yet received royal assent, which will confirm it as law.

Brand distrusts Trusted News Initiative

Brand also accused the Trusted News Initiative of shutting down independent news outlets like his own.

“The Trusted News Initiative is a collaboration between big tech and legacy media organisations to target, control, choke, and shut down independent media organisations like this one,” said Brand.

The BBC founded the Trusted News Initiative, which includes global organisations in its partnership. The Initiative’s goal is to ‘build audience trust and to find solutions to tackle challenges of disinformation’.

Brand said that the Initiative constructs narratives surrounding the pandemic among others. However, he did not go into detail regarding his claims.

Brand did not address the accusations of rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse made against him. The alleged abuse occurred over a seven-year period.

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