The Trump administration has publicly opposed UK government proposals that would require platforms such as YouTube and TikTok to boost the visibility of "public service media" content from broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. In a submission to the UK's consultation, U.S. officials warned the plans could amount to "extraterritorial censorship of protected speech by Americans online", arguing that forcing algorithmic promotion of government-preferred sources risks becoming a tool for viewpoint-based censorship and could set a precedent authoritarian regimes might exploit.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport unveiled the proposals in June as part of a new media bill, intended to make content from public broadcasters easier to find amid changing viewing habits and rising concern over online misinformation. The US embassy has called on the UK to withdraw the plans, warning of knock-on effects for how Americans and journalists use these platforms, while also raising economic concerns about compliance burdens on US firms. The intervention echoes criticism already made by YouTube's EMEA vice president, Pedro Pina, and lands as one of the first tests of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's relations with the White House; the DCMS has been approached for comment.