Prosecutors review Extinction Rebellion cases as third protester in three days has conviction quashed – The Independent

‘Prosecutors are reviewing numerous Extinction Rebellion cases after a third protester in as many days had their conviction quashed.’

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The Independent, 5th August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Regulating content on user-to user and search service providers – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The dust has settled since the government released its draft Online Safety Bill. Now is therefore a good time to evaluate its aims, methods, and potential impacts, which we will do so in this two-part post. The first post will have a look at the overall architecture of the bill, discussing what it is trying to do and how it is trying to do it. The second post will survey responses to the bill from academics and civil society campaigners, discussing whether the bill does too much or not enough.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd August 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Council and bus operator to pay out £109k in damages and costs to religious organisation over refusal to advertise rally – Local Government Lawyer

‘Blackpool Council and its wholly owned company Blackpool Transport Services have been ordered to pay £109,000 in damages and costs to a religious organisation run by evangelist Franklin Graham after refusing to advertise a rally on buses.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st July 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Retired solicitor sees off harassment claim over ‘puerile’ blog – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A retired solicitor’s “abrasive” and “frequently puerile” blog posts are entitled to the same level of protection as mainstream journalism, a High Court judge has ruled, striking out a harassment claim brought by a local government officer.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Reporting restrictions in end of life cases: anonymity for treating clinicians – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The focus of this judgment was on the jurisdiction, if any, that the High Court Family Division has to maintain a Reporting Restriction Order (‘RRO’) prohibiting the naming of any medical clinicians as being involved in the care and treatment of a child who had been the subject of “end of life” proceedings before the High Court prior to their death, and where an RRO had been made at that time preventing the identification of any of the treating clinicians and staff until further order.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 6th July 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Forstater v CGD Europe: when is a belief worthy of respect in a democratic society? – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘Choudhry J’s judgment in Maya Forstater v CGD Europe is well-reasoned and clear, and repays reading in full for anyone interested in the difficult interplay between the rights of those with conflicting protected characteristics.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 29th June 2021

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Supreme Court backs protesters and rules blocking roads can be ‘lawful’ way to demonstrate – The Independent

‘The Supreme Court has ruled that protests can be a “lawful excuse” to block roads, as the government pushes for new laws to limit peaceful demonstrations. Britain’s most senior judges said it was right to acquit a group of protesters who blockaded the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair in London in 2017.’

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The Independent, 26th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK introducing three laws that threaten human rights, says UN expert – The Guardian

‘Boris Johnson’s government is introducing three pieces of legislation that will make human rights violations more likely to occur and less likely to be sanctioned even as averting climate catastrophe depends on these rights, the UN special rapporteur for human rights and the environment has said.’

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The Guardian, 24th June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

News Woman wins appeal against losing job for tweets about transgender people – The Independent

‘A woman who lost her job after tweeting that men cannot change their biological sex has won her appeal against an employment tribunal.’

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The Independent, 10th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

GCHQ’s mass data interception violated right to privacy, court rules – The Guardian

‘The UK spy agency GCHQ’s methods for bulk interception of online communications violated the right to privacy and the regime for collection of data was unlawful, the grand chamber of the European court of human rights has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 25th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Online safety bill: a messy new minefield in the culture wars – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2021 in bills, freedom of expression, internet, news by sally

‘Moderation of online content is difficult. Social networks want to take down content that breaks their rules. They have to do it quickly enough that they do not get shouted at for leaving bad things up, but they have to do it accurately so that they do not get shouted at for taking the wrong things down.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Campus free speech law in England ‘likely to have opposite effect’ – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2021 in bills, freedom of expression, news, universities by sally

‘A controversial bill forcing universities in England to promote free speech has been attacked by freedom of expression campaigners, who say the legislation is more likely to have the opposite effect.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Universities could face fines over free speech breaches – BBC News

‘Universities in England could face fines under new legislation if they fail to protect free speech on campus.’

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BBC News, 12th May 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

If the government cares about freedom of expression, why is it passing the police and crime bill? – Kirsty Brimelow – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2021 in bills, demonstrations, freedom of expression, news, police by sally

‘The new legislation would crush the principle of policing by consent in the UK and stifle democratic change.’

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The Guardian, 5th April 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Civil liberties groups call police plans for demos an ‘assault’ on right to protest – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2021 in bills, demonstrations, freedom of expression, news, police, reports by sally

‘Civil liberties campaigners have warned of a “staggering assault” on the right to protest, as police detailed how they would enforce controversial government proposals to restrict demonstrations.’

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The Guardian, 11th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK launches action plan to prevent harassment and abuse of journalists – The Guardian

Posted March 9th, 2021 in freedom of expression, harassment, media, news, police, prosecutions, trade unions by tracey

‘The UK’s first national action plan aimed at protecting journalists from abuse and harassment has been published by the government with the backing of police and union leaders.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New UK laws needed to stop hate speech and extremism, says report – The Guardian

‘Massive gaps in the law allow terrorism to be glorified and hatred to be spread, and a major crackdown is needed to stop more violence being triggered, an official report has said.’

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The Guardian, 24th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Free speech in Universities – Monckton Chambers

Posted February 18th, 2021 in chambers articles, compensation, freedom of expression, news, universities by sally

‘Free speech in Universities, or the lack thereof, is in the spotlight. On 16 February 2021, it is was reported in the mainstream media that the government is to bring forward legislation that will enable academics, students or visiting students who are “no-platformed” to sue universities for compensation where they feel they have suffered because their right to free speech has been curtailed. Apparently, the proposal is one of a number which will be put forward by the Secretary of State for Education, in order to protect free speech in universities in England. The Guardian reported that “the government wants to introduce a statutory tort for breaches of the free speech duty, which would enable academic staff or students who have been expelled, dismissed or demoted to seek redress through the courts.” The government is also proposing to appoint a “free speech champion”, who will be responsible for investigating potential infringements of free speech in the higher education sector.’

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Monckton Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.monckton.com

Proposed free speech law will make English universities liable for breaches – The Guardian

Posted February 16th, 2021 in freedom of expression, news, statutory duty, universities by sally

‘The government is to introduce legislation that will enable academics, students or visiting speakers who are no-platformed to sue universities for compensation where they feel they have suffered because of free speech infringements.’

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The Guardian, 16th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Assange cannot be extradited, but free speech arguments dismissed — an extended look – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In The Government of the United States v Julian Assange (2021), the District Judge sitting at Westminster Magistrates’ Court discharged the American extradition request against the founder of WikiLeaks because there is a substantial risk that he would commit suicide. Given Julian Assange’s political notoriety as an avowed whistle-blower, however, the judgment is significant for its dismissal of the defence’s free speech arguments. This article analyses why these human rights submissions were unsuccessful.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 21st January 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com