UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The UK’s independent terror reviewer warns Britain’s security plan ignores rising online threats, arguing digital platforms are now central to modern terrorism.
As reported by the Guardian, Britain’s terror watchdog says the government’s updated national security plan fails to treat online threats with sufficient urgency, challenging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s claim that the strategy strengthens the UK’s defences against Russia.
What did Jonathan Hall say about rising online terror threats?
UK’s independent terror reviewer, Jonathan Hall, said it was a
“very surprising omission”
that the 2025 national security strategy failed to address online threats, which he described as a
“major vector of threat”
from terrorists and hostile states.
He warned that defending the country from online threats, increasingly exploited by terrorists and hostile states, is now as crucial as maintaining strong air, naval, and land forces.
Ahead of his speech on Tuesday, the home secretary-appointed adviser said ignoring the impact of online threats on national security “is a gross error.”
Mr Hall, who has reviewed terrorism legislation for six years, warned that almost all terrorist activity in the UK begins online.
He is expected to say,
“Digital life is central to national security, is not an adjunct consideration, and is not to be categorised and dismissed by drawing analogies with earlier technologies such as television, that have caused moral panics and then become integrated into our lives.”
Mr Hall will say,
“Consider the fact that … on one of most popular online games [platforms] for children, Roblox, it is possible to enact a school massacre or mosque shooting.”
The independent reviewer is set to warn,
“Consider the chatbot … that encouraged a man to take a crossbow to Windsor to try to kill the late Queen. Think about Dylan Earl, recently sentenced for a total of 23 years, who was recruited online by the Wagner group to arrange arson at a warehouse containing equipment destined to support Ukraine.”
He will add,
“All this is quite apart from the technical opportunities given to adversaries for hostile surveillance, disruption through cyber-attacks [and] new attack methodologies.”
Mr Hall will also claim that the government has overstated online safety, revealing that a Facebook account linked to the Islamic State posted a guide on the “deadliest places for stabbing,” which remained online for more than a month despite reports.
He said,
“Nothing in the Online Safety Act allows the authorities to take down content or to order tech companies to take it down.”
Mr Hall added,
“Despite this, you will continue to hear ministers saying that the Online Safety Act makes the UK the safest place to be online. We need much greater clarity about what the Online Safety Act can and cannot do. Digital life is too important for us to be left in the dark.”
He urged a “recast” of UK surveillance laws, which currently prevent authorities from collecting personal information online without prior approval.
Mr Hall said the rules are grounded in human rights protections for private life, though he is expected to argue in his speech that,
““We need to consider whether our predigital laws governing surveillance are unduly restricting the ability of counter-terrorism authorities to consider publicly available information online – that is, information that we have freely publicised and/or surrendered to tech companies for advertising purposes.”
Britain must challenge American “free speech absolutists” on online regulation, he will tell audiences in his speech.
Mr Hall will argue that free speech online is “central to national security,” but noted that the debate over its role and value still “flounders in the shallows.”
In his speech, the terrorism reviewer will argue that, in the digital realm, increased speech does not counter harmful content, as some American jurisprudence suggests.
His remarks come after US Vice-President JD Vance claimed that Britons have experienced “infringements on free speech” that also affect American technology companies.
What did Dame Melanie Dawes say about social media and online hate?
Dame Melanie Dawes, the UK communications regulator’s chief executive, told MPs that the regulator is investigating whether social media platforms have adequate systems to remove reported illegal hate and terror material quickly.
She added,
“If we uncover significant compliance concerns, we will not hesitate to move into formal enforcement action.”
How did the Government respond to concerns over online terror and hate content?
A government spokesperson said,
“The UK has one of the most robust counter-terrorism frameworks in the world, and this government is committed to ensuring we have the required tools and powers needed to stop the spread of violence and hatred against individuals and communities in our society.”
They added,
“Under the Online Safety Act, digital platforms must also take action to prevent illegal content, including terrorist and violent material, to protect users and our communities from online harm.”
What is the UK’s updated national security framework?
The UK’s updated national security strategy, published in June 2025, represents a major shift to tackle a “radical uncertainty” in the global environment. This aims to defend UK territory, making the country a harder target, and building national resilience against future threats like terrorism, state threats, and attacks on critical infrastructure.
The strategy focuses on boosting collective security via NATO, renewing vital alliances, and building new partnerships to navigate a tougher international landscape.
A central goal is to rebuild the UK’s defence industrial base and develop sovereign capabilities in areas like artificial intelligence and semiconductors to reduce dependence on others.