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U.S. government warned UK over YouTube censorship risk

Washington said mandated trusted-media feeds could stifle creators YouTube already flagged.

The U.S. government told Downing Street it has "serious concerns" about proposals to give public broadcasters and other trusted outlets more prominence on YouTube and other social feeds. In a September 2 filing to the UK's media green paper consultation, Washington said forcing platforms to boost government-preferred sources in algorithmic rankings would likely amount to "facilitating censorship."

Ministers have floated legislation if platforms refuse to prioritize trustworthy content as audiences shift from traditional television to YouTube, TikTok, and X. The embassy response said such a framework could "establish a template that authoritarian regimes could invoke to justify more control over online content" and reduce reach for speakers that lack official trust designations.

The filing noted that YouTube has already warned the plan could downgrade visibility and stifle organic growth for creators, independent journalists, and outlets not labeled trustworthy. Regulations that pile compliance burdens on U.S. platforms would also "always raise our concern," the response added.

UK YouTuber Simon Squibb said he was encouraged that an "entity that I think politicians will listen to" shared his worries. "This is a very dangerous potential direction for the UK to go in," he said. "I'm happy that the USA has stepped in."

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the government welcomes engagement on the green paper and that any action will protect free expression and fair competition.