{"id":64861,"date":"2024-11-22T09:49:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T08:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=64861"},"modified":"2024-11-22T13:30:39","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T12:30:39","slug":"us-congressional-committee-criticises-uk-censorship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/us-congressional-committee-criticises-uk-censorship","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Tsunami of censorship&#8217;: US congressional committee criticises UK\u2019s abortion centre \u2018buffer zones\u2019 and online censorship"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"64861\" class=\"elementor elementor-64861\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1402ff12 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1402ff12\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-caad7f6\" data-id=\"caad7f6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69bbbd52 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"69bbbd52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Influential committee makes intervention on alarming state of free speech in UK and Europe<\/li><li>Abortion centre \u2018buffer zones\u2019 and Online Safety Act in UK criticised<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6734ed44 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6734ed44\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"597\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Isabel-Vaughan-Spruce-arrest-1-1024x597.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-60162\" alt=\"Isabel Vaughan-Spruce in 2022.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Isabel-Vaughan-Spruce-arrest-1-1024x597.webp 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Isabel-Vaughan-Spruce-arrest-1-300x175.webp 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Isabel-Vaughan-Spruce-arrest-1-768x448.webp 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Isabel-Vaughan-Spruce-arrest-1-1536x896.webp 1536w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Isabel-Vaughan-Spruce-arrest-1-2048x1195.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2839b7f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2839b7f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>LONDON (22 November 2024)<\/strong> &#8211; An influential US congressional committee has criticised abortion centre \u201cbuffer zones\u201d and the Online Safety Act in the UK as part of a \u201ctsunami of censorship headed towards America\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1072dc23 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"1072dc23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #AF272F\">\u201cThis intervention from the House Judiciary Committee shows the UK is fast becoming <\/span>notorious around the world for its censorious practices.\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">- Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF International<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43614e5c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"43614e5c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The X (Twitter) account for the Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee, who are the majority on the cross-party House of Representatives standing committee, called out this censorship in <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JudiciaryGOP\/status\/1852351403030687924\">a thread<\/a> on the alarming state of free speech in the UK and Europe.<\/p>\n<p>The House Judiciary Committee interviewed Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a Catholic woman who, supported by ADF International, <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/silent-prayer-arrest-payout\">recently won a payout<\/a> of \u00a313,000 from West Midlands Police for her two unlawful arrests for silently praying in an abortion centre \u201cbuffer zone\u201d in Birmingham. ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organisation.<\/p>\n<p>The committee\u2019s X thread also critiqued the Online Safety Act for requiring \u201cplatforms to censor alleged hate speech and harmful content\u201d.<\/p><p>ADF International Executive Director Paul Coleman commented: \u201cThis intervention from the House Judiciary Committee shows the UK is fast becoming notorious around the world for its censorious practices.<\/p><p>\u201cThe incoming administration has made its commitment to free speech clear. If British politicians do not act to protect free speech, all other considerations aside, the UK will continue to suffer severe reputational harm on the world stage.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><p>Congressman&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/issa.house.gov\/about\/committees-and-caucuses\">Darrell Issa<\/a>, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said: \u201cThe growing attacks on free speech in the US \u2013 as well as the UK and EU \u2013 pose a direct threat to free people on both sides of the Atlantic. We know that legislation like the Online Safety Act that is said to combat \u2018hate speech\u2019 empowers regulators to censor free speech.<\/p><p>\u201cCongressional Republicans understand that these threats to free speech are part of a broader global push by the Censorship Industrial Complex, which includes not only the EU, UK, and other nations but also malign actors here at home. We are committed to confronting this growing threat alongside the incoming Trump Administration to fight against these assaults on free speech within our borders and around the world.\u201d<\/p><p>Reform UK Leader, Nigel Farage MP said: \u201cThe crackdown on free expression within the UK is becoming very sinister.<\/p><p>\u201cOur police and government now withhold vital public information and we get censored simply for demanding the truth.<\/p><p>\u201cI will continue to fight this.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b763109 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6b763109\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Critique of \u201cbuffer zones\u201d<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67c6626c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67c6626c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In its post, the House Judiciary GOP said: \u201cWhat could posting a Bible verse or praying in front of an abortion clinic get you in Europe? A visit from the police\u2014or worse\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIsabel Vaughan-Spruce was arrested and prosecuted for silently praying. She won her case. Yet still, she receives tickets and other forms of intimidation by police.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The intervention came shortly after \u201cbuffer zones\u201d were introduced around all abortion centres in England and Wales at the end of last month as part of the Public Order Act.<\/p>\n<p>These ban \u201cinfluencing\u201d someone regarding abortion within 150 metres of an abortion facility. Thankfully, the Crown Prosecution Service<a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/silent-prayer-case-appeal\"> has issued guidance<\/a> saying silent prayer is \u201cnot necessarily\u201d a crime and that there must be evidence of overt activity.<\/p>\n<p>However, army veteran Adam Smith-Connor last month became the first person to be convicted for silent prayer in a \u201cbuffer zone\u201d. With the support of ADF International, he is appealing his conviction.<\/p>\n<p>Medical scientist Dr Livia Tossici-Bolt <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/consensual-conversation-on-trial\">also faces trial<\/a> for holding a sign in a \u201cbuffer zone\u201d that said \u201cHere to talk if you want\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3847515 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3847515\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span>Critique of Online Safety Act and Digital Services Act<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63ae29a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"63ae29a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The House Judiciary GOP post critiqued UK online speech legislation and the Digital Services Act, an EU regulation: \u201cTwo major pieces of online speech legislation were passed in Europe over the last two years: The EU\u2019s Digital Services Act (DSA) &amp; the UK\u2019s Online Safety Act (OSA).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGenerally speaking, they require platforms to censor alleged hate speech and harmful content\u2026 The UK\u2019s laws mirror or go beyond the EU\u2019s laws &amp; include Orwellian practices to investigate speech.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The committee\u2019s post explained that because of the population and economic size of the UK and EU, regulations that censor speech in those areas can affect the US. For example, companies change their global policies to match anti-speech EU regulations.<\/p>\n<p>Financial penalties also play a role: \u201cWhat do platforms risk if they don\u2019t comply? Penalties are as high as 6% of GLOBAL revenue from the EU\u2019s DSA and 10% of GLOBAL revenue from the UK\u2019s OSA. Billions of dollars for most major platforms.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Digital Services Act and Online Safety Act enable bureaucrats in the EU and the UK to put platforms out of business. So now, social media companies and their employees are strongly incentivized to overregulate speech on their platforms to preserve their business.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe fight for free expression online is a global fight. The Biden-Harris Administration has stood by silently as foreign countries try to render the First Amendment obsolete.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a528e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4a528e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2828dae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2828dae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The thread from the congressional committee also highlighted the case of Dr P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen, a Finnish parliamentarian on trial for a tweet expressing her Christian views on sexuality.<\/p>\n<p>With the support of ADF International, Dr R\u00e4s\u00e4nen <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/bible-tweet-case-to-be-heard-at-finnish-supreme-court\">faces <\/a>trial at Finland\u2019s Supreme Court for alleged \u201chate speech\u201d, despite being unanimously acquitted of the charges on two previous occasions.<\/p>\n<p>The House Judiciary GOP added: \u201cIf she [Dr R\u00e4s\u00e4nen] loses her case, it could serve as a precedent for other European countries.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMeaning posting a Bible verse could be soon considered \u2018hate speech\u2019 across the EU.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d94436c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7d94436c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Influential committee makes intervention on alarming state of free speech in UK and Europe Abortion centre \u2018buffer zones\u2019 and Online Safety Act in UK criticised LONDON (22 November 2024) &#8211; An influential US congressional committee has criticised abortion centre \u201cbuffer zones\u201d and the Online Safety Act in the UK as part of a \u201ctsunami of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":60162,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[736],"tags":[1060,899,909,898],"class_list":["post-64861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-censorship-en-gb","tag-free-speech-en-gb","tag-religious-freedom-en-gb","tag-uk-en-gb"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>US congressional committee criticises UK\u2019s abortion centre \u2018buffer zones\u2019 and online censorship<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An influential US congressional committee has criticised abortion centre \u201cbuffer zones\u201d and the Online Safety Act in the UK as part of a 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