Labour forcing social media platforms to prioritise BBC over GB News threatens free speech, warns US Congress

Labour has been warned by IS Congress that forcing social media platforms to prioritise the BBC over GB News and outlets is a threat to free speech.

The Americans have issued a stark warning to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, claiming that proposed regulations forcing technology giants to boost BBC content represent a fundamental assault on free expression.

Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and maintains close ties to Donald Trump, sent correspondence to Ms Nandy on Tuesday outlining his objections to the plans.

The proposals, unveiled by the government last month, would compel platforms including Meta, Google and YouTube to give enhanced visibility to material from public service broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.

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In his letter, Mr Jordan argued the rule "would serve as a major threat" to online speech and "infringe on the rights of American companies".

The Republican congressman expressed concern that several of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's proposals would damage the open exchange of ideas online.

Mr Jordan said: "Several of DCMS's proposals would hurt the free, competitive marketplace of ideas, and instead prioritise state-sanctioned media outlets with the goal of influencing the scope and direction of public discourse."

He characterised the reforms as potentially harmful to both American businesses and their users, requesting that British officials provide a detailed explanation of their intentions.

"We write to express our serious concerns with these proposed reforms and to request a briefing on DCMS's ongoing consideration and prospective implementation of any such reforms," Mr Jordan stated in the correspondence shared with The Telegraph.

Ministers have defended the proposals as necessary to counter the growing influence of algorithm-driven content, which government sources believe is eroding the reach of reliable news organisations.

Artificial intelligence-generated material has become a particular concern for officials seeking to tackle misinformation online.

Research from Ofcom reveals the extent to which traditional news consumption patterns have shifted, with three-quarters of 16 to 24-year-olds now relying primarily on social media for their news.

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The regulator's data also shows that more than half of British adults count social media platforms among their principal news sources.

Beyond the prominence rules, ministers are examining whether to extend public service media status to digital-only outlets and are consulting on transitioning to internet-based television by either 2034 or 2044.

The intervention from Washington adds to mounting friction between the two governments over technology regulation, with senior Trump administration figures convinced that Britain has long benefited from levies unfairly targeting American firms.

President Trump launched a $10billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC in 2025 after a memo published by The Telegraph last autumn suggested that BBC Panorama had "doctored" footage of a speech, making it appear he had directly incited violence when his supporters stormed the Capitol.

The president has also threatened to impose tariffs of 100 per cent on British goods unless the government abandons its digital services tax, a two per cent charge on revenues from social media companies, search engines and online marketplaces earning more than £500million, which was introduced in April 2020.

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