UK Journalists Could Be Jailed for Printing Info Not 'In The Public Interest,' Under New Amendments

David McLoone : Aug 2, 2021
LifeSiteNews.com

The new law will be used "simply to silence criticism of the government as it becomes ever more hypocritical and totalitarian," one critic said.

(London, England) — [LifeSiteNews.com] Press freedoms in the UK could be stripped back by amendments set to be made to the Official Secrets Act that would render it illegal for journalists to publish leaked information regarding the government that is deemed to "not be in the public interest." (Image: Pixabay)

The current Official Secrets Act, last updated in 1989, makes provisions for whistle-blowers who leak sensitive information that they consider to be in the public interest, distinguishing their actions from espionage. Now, a government consultation from the Home Office has suggested a reform to the legislation that will do away with the distinction, essentially treating such journalists and their sources as spies. The Home Office has also proposed a dramatic increase in prison time for breaking the law, going from two years to a possible fourteen years behind bars.

According to the Home Office, headed by Priti Patel, "the scale and potential impact of espionage and unauthorized disclosures has changed significantly since the Official Secrets Acts 1911-89 first became law." As a result, the government argued that developments in communication and technology pose a "discernible and very real threat" to national security.

The Law Commission, an independent body in Britain which reviews English and Welsh law and periodically recommends changes, began a review process of the Official Secrets Act in 2017, proposing alterations to bring the legislation up to date with advancements in technology and the speed of data transfer... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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