United Kingdom

While protections for freedom of expression generally hold strong in the UK, recent developments justified on the grounds of national security are troubling. Overbroad surveillance powers undermine protections for whistleblowers, activists and journalists. Proposals to revise the Official Secret Acts threaten access to information,while calls for increased internet regulations and encryption restrictions have sent alarming signals to everyone working in the field. The vote to leave the European Union in 2016 has exacerbated xenophobia, and increased hate speech online and in media outlets has deepened concerns about a divisive press. Concentration of media ownership and the uncertain future of the UK’s legal framework for press self-regulation has led to a situation where the public’s right to access reliable information is regularly undermined.

UK: Bill of Rights will seriously undermine freedom of expression
22.06.2022 4 min read

UK: Bill of Rights will seriously undermine freedom of expression

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UK: Call for pre-legislative scrutiny of Bill of Rights
22.06.2022 3 min read

UK: Call for pre-legislative scrutiny of Bill of Rights

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UK: Extraditing Assange will erode media freedom
17.06.2022 2 min read

UK: Extraditing Assange will erode media freedom

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UK: Leaving the European Convention would jeopardise freedom of speech
15.06.2022 5 min read

UK: Leaving the European Convention would jeopardise freedom of speech

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UK: Journalist’s victory in libel case endorses media freedom
13.06.2022 5 min read

UK: Journalist’s victory in libel case endorses media freedom

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UK: National Security Bill threatens free expression
06.06.2022 3 min read

UK: National Security Bill threatens free expression

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UK: A Public Order Bill that will criminalise protest
13.05.2022 5 min read

UK: A Public Order Bill that will criminalise protest

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Boundaries of Expression podcast: The UK Human Rights Act
10.05.2022 2 min read

Boundaries of Expression podcast: The UK Human Rights Act

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Jo Glanville: Are some rights more equal than others?
26.04.2022 13 min read

Jo Glanville: Are some rights more equal than others?

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