Allies of former President Donald Trump have introduced legislation aimed at preventing British regulators from enforcing online safety rules on websites based in the United States. The bill, proposed by Republican Congressman Michael Rulli, seeks to bar US courts from recognising or enforcing foreign fines related to online speech, particularly those imposed under the UK’s Online Safety Act.
The legislation, referred to as the "Granite Act"—an acronym for "Guaranteeing rights against novel international tyranny and extortion"—reflects growing tensions between US political figures and European regulators. The Trump administration has previously criticised European authorities for attempting to apply their laws to American companies, arguing such measures infringe on First Amendment protections of free speech.
Michael Rulli stated that foreign governments should not dictate what Americans can say online, emphasising that any foreign penalties aimed at American individuals or entities for speech protected under the US Constitution would be considered invalid in American courts.
Ofcom, the British communications regulator, has been active in enforcing the UK Online Safety Act, which was passed in 2023 and obligates websites to protect users from illegal content and prevent children from accessing harmful material. The regulator has the authority to impose fines of up to £18 million or 10 percent of a company’s global annual turnover for non-compliance.
In one notable case this year, Ofcom fined 4chan, a US-based messaging platform with 1.4 million monthly users in the UK, £520,000 for failing to implement age verification measures designed to block minors from accessing pornography. 4chan, alongside Kiwi Farms—a discussion board known for facilitating harassment—responded by suing Ofcom in US courts seeking an injunction to halt enforcement actions. Ofcom countered by requesting dismissal on the grounds that its regulatory actions are protected under laws that shield foreign governments from being sued in the US.
Rulli’s bill would remove such protections in cases concerning free speech, allowing US citizens to obtain court orders declaring foreign-imposed fines unenforceable. If monetary fines prove ineffective, Ofcom could pursue additional steps, including seeking court orders to require UK internet service providers such as Virgin Media and Sky to block access to non-compliant sites.
Similar legislation has previously been proposed at the state level, notably in Wyoming, but this marks the first time a federal lawmaker has presented such a measure. While Rulli’s version faces uncertain prospects of becoming law, similar bills with backing from members of the House Judiciary Committee, the White House, and the US State Department are reportedly under consideration.
Legal experts and commentators have described the Granite Act as part of a broader strategy to resist what they see as foreign attempts at censorship of American speech. Preston Byrne, a lawyer for 4chan, described it as more than a single bill—rather, a guideline for how American law could be used to counteract foreign regulatory actions. Fred de Fossard, director of strategy at the Prosperity Institute think tank, called the legislation an “aggressive response” to the UK Online Safety Act, affirming that Ofcom’s extraterritorial regulatory efforts will face strong opposition in the US.