Peers warn 'Online Safety' laws could threaten freedom of speech by making Facebook and Google the 'arbiters of truth' with powers to 'stifle legitimate debate'

Ministers' plans for new 'Online Safety' laws could threaten freedom of speech by making Facebook and Google the 'arbiters of truth', peers warned today.

An influential cross-party committee cautioned that 'legitimate debate' is at risk of being 'stifled' by the way major platforms filter out 'misinformation'.  

The government's proposals set out that tech companies will be expected to state in their rules the types of content they consider legal but 'harmful', and enforce those policies.