The Trump administration has accused the United Kingdom of backsliding on human rights over the past year, citing antisemitic violence and “serious restrictions” on freedom of speech.
The annual U.S. State Department report, which assesses human rights conditions worldwide, highlighted laws restricting speech around abortion clinics, as well as what it described as repeated interventions by government officials to “chill speech” online following the 2024 Southport attack.
The report stated:
The government sometimes took credible steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses, but prosecution and punishment for such abuses was inconsistent.
It cited the “safe access zones” around abortion clinics, which it said “could include prohibitions on efforts to influence … even through prayer or silent protest.”
Criticism over restrictions on free speech — particularly regarding regulations on online hate speech — was also directed at the governments of Germany and France.
A UK government spokesperson responded:
Free speech is vital for democracy around the world, including here in the UK, and we are proud to uphold freedoms while keeping our citizens safe.
The document, once regarded as the most comprehensive study of its kind, has been significantly rewritten and scaled back by the Trump administration, including in areas such as government corruption and LGBTQ+ rights.
It spares criticism for U.S. allies such as Israel and El Salvador while intensifying disapproval of perceived adversaries such as Brazil and South Africa. The report was published after months of delay, amid reports of internal dissent at the State Department over its contents.