(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: LORD CHANCELLOR CHALLENGED ON ‘INSIDIOUS CENSORSHIP’ The Lord Chancellor’s office has acted as judge, jury and censor by taking action leading to the closure by an Internet service provider of a website deemed ‘offensive’, according to ARTICLE 19, the International Centre Against Censorship. Andrew […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
LORD CHANCELLOR CHALLENGED ON ‘INSIDIOUS CENSORSHIP’
The Lord Chancellor’s office has acted as judge, jury and censor by taking
action leading to the closure by an Internet service provider of a website
deemed ‘offensive’, according to ARTICLE 19, the International Centre
Against Censorship.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of the London-based rights
organisation said:
“The government department responsible for ensuring justice has effectively
denied the author of this website the right to put his side of the argument.
We are more used to protesting such insidious censorship on the part of
totalitarian governments.”
The action demonstrates that public officials are willing and able to censor
the Internet merely by complaining to service providers, who are more
concerned about the possibility of large legal bills than safeguarding free
speech.
ARTICLE 19 believes that there should be an opportunity for an independent
assessment of the site’s content – for example by being able to challenge
the closure order in court or at a hearing by an independent body.
ARTICLE 19 is concerned about the implications for freedom of expression
raised by this incident. The European Court has specifically held that
information and ideas that “offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector
of the population” are protected under the free speech guarantee offered by
Article 10 of the Convention. In order for such standards to be tested,
cases need to be brought to court. The Lord Chancellor has by-passed a legal
process and thus undermined the force and judgement of the law.
1. The action by the Lord Chancellor’s office comes shortly after a meeting
held at ARTICLE 19 to brief the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion
and Expression on the UK situation.
See ‘Lagging Not Leading: Freedom of Expression in the UK’ (ARTICLE 19, Oct.
1999).
