(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: 25 October 1999 – for immediate release UK GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP INCREASING, UN MISSION HEARS The British Government is presiding over a trend towards increasing censorship, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom Of Opinion and Expression was told today by a broad range of civil […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
25 October 1999 – for immediate release
UK GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP INCREASING, UN MISSION HEARS
The British Government is presiding over a trend towards increasing
censorship, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom Of Opinion and Expression
was told today by a broad range of civil society representatives. Examples
given were a sudden clampdown over the release of pornographic videos,
official sanction for the prosecution of authors under secrecy laws, and
reneging on Labour’s pre-election pledge to freedom of information by
publishing a Bill which should be known as the “Bill on Restriction on
Access to Public Documents”.
The claims were made today at a meeting held at ARTICLE 19 to brief Abid
Hussain, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, on the state of
freedom of expression in the UK as part of his official mission. After
collecting evidence on the mainland, Mr Hussain will proceed to Northern
Ireland to assess the situation there at first hand.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 said:
“There is an overwhelming sense that the UK is moving towards greater
secrecy and censorship than ever before, despite high expectations and
commitments to the contrary when the new government took power. The
availability of new technology seems to have increased the potential for
official abuse of civil liberties, rather than creating more opportunities
for the public to educate and inform themselves.”
