Comments on: UK: Rebuilding freedoms http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2009/10/uk-rebuilding-freedoms/ for free expression Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:09:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James Darling http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2009/10/uk-rebuilding-freedoms/comment-page-1/#comment-1645 James Darling Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:53:05 +0000 http://www.indexoncensorship.org/?p=6218#comment-1645 I was severely shaken when told by someone connected to a Public Protection unit of the Metropolitan Police that I would have to have my historical novel vetted by the police BEFORE I submitted it to a literary agent or publisher. I was obviously mistaken in believing that intellectual property prior to publication was private, although I know that after publication a work can be banned as obscene or indecent. The issue that is raised is that in the UK one's thoughts alone, if written down, become subject to mandatory surveillance. I was severely shaken when told by someone connected to a Public Protection unit of the Metropolitan Police that I would have to have my historical novel vetted by the police BEFORE I submitted it to a literary agent or publisher. I was obviously mistaken in believing that intellectual property prior to publication was private, although I know that after publication a work can be banned as obscene or indecent. The issue that is raised is that in the UK one’s thoughts alone, if written down, become subject to mandatory surveillance.

]]> By: Martin Budden http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2009/10/uk-rebuilding-freedoms/comment-page-1/#comment-1625 Martin Budden Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:23:49 +0000 http://www.indexoncensorship.org/?p=6218#comment-1625 Benjamin Franklin said: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Much of our security is in fact derived from our liberty. It's no coincidence that the countries whose citizens are most secure are the same countries that have enshrined their citizens rights. We need to stand up for our liberties not just for idealistic reasons, but also for pragmatic reasons - more liberty means more security. Benjamin Franklin said: “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Much of our security is in fact derived from our liberty. It’s no coincidence that the countries whose citizens are most secure are the same countries that have enshrined their citizens rights. We need to stand up for our liberties not just for idealistic reasons, but also for pragmatic reasons – more liberty means more security.

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