*There could two, three, many Julian Assanges.* *(Speaking of whom, here's a piece on what he's going through right now: *
*https://thegrayzone.com/2020/05/29/british-court-assanges-physical-deterioration/?fbclid=IwAR2nxGnG6OtwctbE9nNr4vMTojUiTgznOfEPc5Qeq-ajOjYy-DWFeIIKnio* <https://thegrayzone.com/2020/05/29/british-court-assanges-physical-deterioration/?fbclid=IwAR2nxGnG6OtwctbE9nNr4vMTojUiTgznOfEPc5Qeq-ajOjYy-DWFeIIKnio> *)* *MCM* BRITAIN <https://consortiumnews.com/category/international/britain/>, COMMENTARY <https://consortiumnews.com/category/commentary/>, COVID-19 <https://consortiumnews.com/category/covid-19/>, INTELLIGENCE <https://consortiumnews.com/category/intelligence-2/>, INTERNATIONAL <https://consortiumnews.com/category/international/>, LEGAL <https://consortiumnews.com/category/legal/>, MEDIA <https://consortiumnews.com/category/media/>, SECRECY <https://consortiumnews.com/category/secrecy/>, WIKILEAKS <https://consortiumnews.com/category/wikileaks/> New UK Laws Could Criminalize Journalism May 30, 2020 *https://consortiumnews.com/2020/05/30/new-uk-laws-could-criminalize-journalism/ <https://consortiumnews.com/2020/05/30/new-uk-laws-could-criminalize-journalism/>* *The British government is pursuing “espionage legislation” that could criminalise the release of public information as part of an “epidemic of secrecy,” reports Richard Norton-Taylor.* *By Richard Norton-Taylor**Declassified UK* <https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-05-30-new-uk-laws-could-criminalise-journalism/> * <https://consortiumnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Richard-Norton-Taylor.jpg>B*ritish journalists and their sources are facing an unprecedented assault on freedom of speech, including the prospect of criminal prosecution. Threats aimed at whistleblowers and journalists were evident before the coronavirus crisis struck, but went largely unnoticed. The government’s Queen’s Speech <https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/853886/Queen_s_Speech_December_2019_-_background_briefing_notes.pdf> in December included plans for new “espionage legislation”. It stressed the need to combat “hostile state activity” and make the UK “a harder environment for adversaries to operate in” – an indirect reference to the poisoning in Salisbury of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal. But it also insisted that the Official Secrets Act, drawn up in 1989, must be “updated” and confirmed that the Law Commission, the body that reviews the law in England and Wales, has been commissioned by the government to do this. Yet proposals <https://www.cfoi.org.uk/2017/05/whistleblowers-and-journalists-face-prison-for-revealing-information-that-could-be-obtained-under-foi/> drawn up by the Law Commission to review the Official Secrets Act pose major dangers. Whistleblowers and journalists could be convicted for revealing information about defence, international relations or law enforcement, even if it was unlikely to cause harm. They would make it easier to secure convictions by weakening the existing tests for proving an offence. Neither would someone revealing danger to the public, abuse of power or serious misconduct be able to argue that they acted in the public interest. In addition, maximum prison sentences on conviction, currently two years under the Official Secrets Act, would be increased. Moreover, it would not be a defence to show that the information had already lawfully been made public – unless the information had also been “widely disseminated”. How would that be determined? Maurice Frankel, director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, has warned <https://www.cfoi.org.uk/2017/05/whistleblowers-and-journalists-face-prison-for-revealing-information-that-could-be-obtained-under-foi/> that the Law Commission’s proposals could criminalise the release of a vast amount of additional information. *Click on the link for the rest.* -- If you appreciate News From Underground, please consider making a donation — either a one-time gift or a monthly subscription: http://markcrispinmiller.com/support/ Thank you for your support. Ways to unsubscribe: 1) send a blank email to [email protected] PLEASE NOTE: you must unsubscribe using the SAME email with which you subscribed 2) go to http://groups.google.com/group/newsfromunderground and click on the "Unsubscribe or change membership" link in the yellow bar at the top of the page, then click the "Unsubscribe" button on the next page. For more News From Underground, visit http://markcrispinmiller.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "News From Underground" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/newsfromunderground/CAGxB6W-TDbt2NBxaArFVX3CnT08ksNo9FOwsbsrS1FdugOfCVA%40mail.gmail.com.
