‘Tucked away in the government’s 300-page police, crime, sentencing and courts bill, are various clauses which will have serious implications for the right to protest. The bill seeks to quietly criminalise “serious annoyance”, increase police powers to restrict protests, and give the home secretary discretion over what types of protests are allowed.’
The Guardian, 9th August 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Prosecutors are reviewing numerous Extinction Rebellion cases after a third protester in as many days had their conviction quashed.’
The Independent, 5th August 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘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.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd August 2021
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘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.’
Local Government Lawyer, 21st July 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘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.’
Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2021
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘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.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 6th July 2021
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘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.’
Parklane Plowden Chambers, 29th June 2021
Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk
‘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.’
The Independent, 26th June 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A woman who lost her job after tweeting that men cannot change their biological sex has won her appeal against an employment tribunal.’
The Independent, 10th June 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘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.’
The Guardian, 25th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘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.’
The Guardian, 12th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘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.’
The Guardian, 12th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Universities in England could face fines under new legislation if they fail to protect free speech on campus.’
BBC News, 12th May 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The new legislation would crush the principle of policing by consent in the UK and stifle democratic change.’
The Guardian, 5th April 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘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.’
The Guardian, 11th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘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.’
The Guardian, 9th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘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.’
The Guardian, 24th February 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘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.’
Monckton Chambers, 17th February 2021
Source: www.monckton.com
‘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.’
The Guardian, 16th February 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
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