A coalition representing media from across the world has warned that provisions in the National Security Bill could have a chilling effect on journalism, creating a blueprint for authoritarian governments around the world to threaten journalists, activists and whistleblowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an open letter today, signatories representing news media and journalists from across the world called on the UK government to act to protect and prioritise media freedom which is a means to \u201cimprove good governance and tackle corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coordinated by the News Media Association and signed by more than 40 representatives of media organisations from across the world, the letter comes as peers are set to debate the National Security Bill during the third day of Committee Stage in the Lords today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Signatories include Romana Cacchioli, executive director, PEN International; Rebecca Vincent, director of operations and campaigns, Reporters Without Borders; Deborah Bonetti, director, The Foreign Press Association; Liz Corbin, deputy director of media and head of news, European Broadcasting Union; Owen Meredith, chief executive, News Media Association; and Ahmad Quraishi, executive director, Afghanistan Journalists Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The coalition said: \u201cWe write as a group of global journalism and media freedom organisations, to express our serious concerns about the National Security Bill currently before the UK Parliament, and the risk it poses to whistleblowing and public interest journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhilst we understand the UK government\u2019s aim to update its espionage laws to protect national security, the draft Bill contains broad and vague definitions that we believe will, even if unintentionally, impact on legitimate whistleblowers and public interest journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cClauses intended to target spies acting on behalf of foreign states could also bring individuals working for international media and NGO organisations, many of whom legitimately receive funding from foreign states, within scope of the Bill. This could have a chilling effect on the legitimate flow of public interest information to the UK general public and create a blueprint that could be used by authoritarian governments around the world as a means to threaten journalists, activists and whistleblowers with lengthy prison sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is widely recognised that taking active steps to protect and prioritise media freedom is a means to improve good governance and tackle corruption. As a result any action on this by the UK government will be a significant marker to the global community, watched and potentially copied by allies and adversaries alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe believe the UK government can strengthen its espionage laws for the modern age, whilst ensuring there are meaningful and robust protections for those acting in the public interest and promoting the duty to impart information and ideas to the public and the public\u2019s right to receive them, specifically whistleblowers and journalists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The full list of signatories is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A coalition representing media from across the world has warned that provisions in the National Security Bill could have a chilling effect on journalism, creating a blueprint for authoritarian governments around the world to threaten journalists, activists and whistleblowers. In an open letter today, signatories representing news media and journalists from across the world called […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":11401,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[56,1,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-security-bill","category-news","category-pressfreedom","national-security-bill","news","pressfreedom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n