Censor Watch

The US right leaning forum website GAB has blocked internet users located in Britain. UK users can now only see a landing page explaining that UK internet censorship laws are unacceptable to the free speech loving forum. The website explains its actions as follows:

ATTENTION: UK Visitor Detected

The following notice applies specifically to users accessing from the United Kingdom.

Access Restricted by Provider

After receiving yet another demand from the UK's speech police, Ofcom, Gab has made the decision to block the entire United Kingdom from accessing our website.

This latest email from Ofcom ordered us to disclose information about our users and operations. We know where this leads: compelled censorship and British citizens thrown in jail for hate speech. We refuse to comply with this tyranny.

Gab is an American company with zero presence in the UK. Ofcom's demands have no legal force here. To enforce anything in the United States, they'd need to go through a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty request or letters rogatory. No U.S. court is going to enforce a foreign censorship regime. The First Amendment forbids it.

Ofcom will likely try to make an example of us anyway. That's because the UK's Online Safety Act isn't about protecting children. It's about suppressing dissent.

They're welcome to try. The idea that a British regulator can pressure a U.S. company that's IP-blocking the entire UK is as farcical as it is futile. If anything, it proves our point: censorship doesn't work. It only reveals the truth about the censors.

We proudly join platforms like Bitchute in boycotting the United Kingdom. American companies should follow suit. The power of the UK's parliament ends where the First Amendment begins.

The only way to vote against the tyranny of the UK's present regime is to walk away from it, refuse to comply, and take refuge under the impervious shelter of the First Amendment.

The UK's rulers want their people kept in the dark. Let them see how long the public tolerates it as their Internet vanishes, one website at a time.

Mikey is a 1992 USA horror thriller by Dennis Dimster (as Dennis Dimster-Denk).
Starring Brian Bonsall and Josie Bissett and Ashley Laurence.

The film was withdrawn from cinema release in 1993 when caught up in  the Jamie Bulger controversy.  It was then banned by the BBFC from 1996 VHS release. The film was rated BBFC 15 uncut when resubmitted for Blu-rayn in 2025. Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US.

Summary Notes

A strong thriller directed by Dennis Dimster-Denk. Brain Bonsall is extraordinary good as the young smart psycho.

The film received some controversy, because of Mikey's age in the film, when it's came out in the Spring of 1992.

Versions

uncut run: 91:30s pal: 87:50s	Amazon Germany Spain Ireland	UK: Uncut and BBFC 15 rated for strong violence, injury detail, threat: 2025 Treasured Films Blu-ray (rated 21/03/2025) UK: Passed 18 uncut for: 1992 cinema release However the certificate was withdrawn in the fallout of the James Bulger killing. See article from en.wikipedia.org , (thanks to Jonathan) The film was withdrawn from release in the United Kingdom following the James Bulger murder in Liverpool in 1993. It had been classified with an 18 certificate for cinema in November 1992, but head censor James Ferman demanded the certificate be returned. The BBFC cinema certificate is no longer in the BBFC database.   UK: Available on Amazon Prime Note that BBFC bans do not apply to online video. However BBFC bans do apply to TV broadcasts although TV companies can get the nod from the BBFC that if a film were to be submitted it would no longer be banned. US: Uncut and MPAA R Rated for: 2020 Mvd Rewind R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon 2020 Mvd Rewind (R0) DVD at US Amazon 2000 Sterling R0 DVD Germany: Uncut for: De '84 Entertainment R2 DVD via UK Amazon Spain: The Spanish release is uncut for: Es Smile Price R0 DVD Ireland: Available on Irish video with the boast that it is banned in the UK
banned run: 91:29s pal: 87:49s		UK: Banned by BBFC 1996 Video Programme VHS (rated 20/12/1996) UK: Banned by the BBFC in 1996 (in the fallout from the James Bulger killing) for: 1996 VPD VHS The BBFC explained their ban: A 9 year old boy kills his foster family one by one, including the realistic drowning of his 3 year old sister. It was argued that this was a fantasy horror film and not to be taken literally, but three distinguished child psychiatrists advised us that the video was sufficiently realistic to have a dangerous impact on a significant proportion of vulnerable children. UK: Passed 18 uncut  for: 1992 cinema release However the certificate was withdrawn in the fallout of the James Bulger killing. See article from en.wikipedia.org , (thanks to Jonathan) The film was withdrawn from release in the United Kingdom following the James Bulger murder in Liverpool in 1993. It had been classified with an 18 certificate for cinema in November 1992, but head censor James Ferman demanded the certificate be returned. The BBFC cinema certificate is no longer in the BBFC database.

US state department officials have challenged Britain's internet censor over the impact on freedom of expression created by new online censorship laws, the Guardian understands.

A group of officials from the state department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) recently met Ofcom in London. It is understood that they raised the issue of the new online safety act and how it risked infringing free speech.

The state department body later said the meeting was part of its initiative to affirm the US commitment to defending freedom of expression, both in Europe and around the world. During the meeting, Ofcom officials claimed the new rules were only in place to deal with explicitly illegal content and material that could be harmful to children.

A state department spokesperson said: As Vice-President Vance has said, we are concerned about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom. It is important that the UK respect and protect freedom of expression.

Details of the meeting emerged after Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, denied that concerns over free speech had featured in tariff negotiations with the US.

In February, the US vice-president, JD Vance, complained of infringements on free speech in the UK. Elon Musk, one of Trump's closest allies, repeatedly claimed that some prison sentences handed down to people who incited the riots on X were a breach of free speech.

Free speech advocates say that the UK censorship law is going to bring about a culture of 'if in doubt, cut it out' as platforms seek to avoid being subject to Ofcom's enforcement powers.

Marching Powder is a 2025 comedy thriller by Nick Love
Starring Stephanie Leonidas, Danny Dyer and Philippe Brenninkmeyer

BBFC cuts were required for 2025 cinema and video release.

Summary Notes

Middle-aged Jack, arrested for drugs, strives in 6 weeks to repair marriage, curb bullying in-law, and guide stepbrother Kenny Boy, but his efforts fail as life spirals out of control.

Versions

cut run: 96:03s pal: 92:12s		UK: cut and BBFC 18 rated for very strong language, sex references after BBFC cuts: 2025 True Brit Entertainment video (rated 28/02/2025) 2025 True Brit Entertainment cinema release (rated 21/02/2025) The BBFC commented: Company was required to make a compulsory change to one scene to remove a potentially indecent image involving a child. The original version of the scene showed a child in the same shot as some explicit material playing on a laptop behind him. Company addressed this issue by substituting the images on the laptop screen with non explicit images. Cut made in accordance with the Protection of Children Act 1978. No footage was removed as the cuts were made by digital substitution.
uncut run: 96:03s pal: 92:12s		Ireland: Uncut and IFCO 18 rated for very strong drugs and language, strong violence and sexual content: 2025 True Brit cinema release (2025 rated 04/02/2025)