The UK’s National Security Bill threatens to “criminalise” public interest journalism and whistleblowing, news publishers and press freedom campaign groups have warned.
In its current form, the bill – which is advancing through Parliament after being introduced by Priti Patel’s Home Office in May – is also set to water down protections against police accessing journalistic materials.
Campaign groups are concerned about a clause in the bill that may threaten journalists for foreign state-funded broadcasters, including from “friendly states”, with prison time for reporting on leaked information.
Guardian News and Media, the News Media Association (NMA), whistleblowers charity Protect, the Campaign for Freedom of Information and Article 19 have each made submissions to the Government that identify a plethora of serious issues with the legislation.
The priority of most of these organisations is for the Government to include a public interest defence clause. Without one, these groups fear the National Security Bill threatens to “criminalise” some investigative journalism and “chill” whistleblowing.
In a submission to the Government seen by Press Gazette, Guardian News and Media said: “The only safeguard for whistleblowers and journalists in the draft bill is that the Attorney-General has to consent to prosecutions and also that the Crown Prosecution Service has to consider that prosecution is in the public interest.
“The DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions] guidance holds no...
The lawsuit alleges the CCRB’s online database, 50-a.org, unfairly harms officers by listing serious accusations including sexual misconduct, racial profiling and making false official statements ...