Free Speech in Universities

Today the government announced landmark reforms to strengthen free speech and academic freedom at universities – delivering on a manifesto commitment – so that students and academics can express themselves freely, challenge views and cultivate an open mind.

  • Following an increasing number of cases of individuals being silenced, many people - and I am one of them - are deeply concerned about the chilling effect on campuses where students and staff feel they cannot express themselves freely.
     
  • The government shares that concern and is therefore delivering on a manifesto commitment, introducing tougher legal measures to strengthen free speech and academic freedom. Measures include a new free speech condition placed on higher education providers in order to be registered in England and access public funding; extending legal duties to student unions; and a new Free Speech and Academic Freedom Champion to investigate breaches of free speech and impose fines where appropriate.
     
  • Free speech underpins our democratic society and our universities have a long and proud history of being places where students and academics can express themselves freely, challenge views and cultivate an open mind.

Comments

Jim said…
lots of social media outlets no platforming too, and really what happened to parler was not good (not that I used it, or twitter)

but here is an interesting and welcome devlopment from Poland
8:49 am
Chris Whiteside said…
My word.

Thank you for that link, Jim, that is indeed interesting.

It will be fascinating to see if that approach catches on. I would welcome it. Might be quite hard for one country to enforce, though.
9:14 pm
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