AG
The UK speech laws are insane and inconsistent with a free society, but what makes them even worse is selective enforcement. The police spend their time tracking down people who posted innocuous tweets a year ago while ignoring open hate speech every weekend in London.
Allison Pearson
The story so far. 1. I am not a racist. 2. I didn’t post a racist tweet. 3. My tweet did not incite violence against any protected characteristic. 4. My fairly innocuous tweet was deleted a year ago. 5. Senior lawyers say my tweet does “not come near the threshold for criminal prosecution”. 6. But Essex Police upgraded the accusation from Non-Crime Hate Incident to offence under the Public order Act. Why? 7. Essex Police visited my home but refused to specify either the accusation or the accuser. 8. Under pressure, Essex Police deployed the terrorist-fighting Gold Command to investigate a solitary Welsh journalist 5ft 4 inches who still believes in freedom of speech. Weird, I know. 9. This is all nonsense. Deeply sinister, frightening nonsense and wholly disproportionate police over-reach if you ask me. 10. Last night, I realised I no longer feel safe in my own country. A terrible moment. As Elon Musk said, “This must stop.” It really must. @elonmusk