Campaigners attack planned legislation, saying it will further limit what is deemed acceptable speech
A controversial bill forcing universities in England to promote free speech has been attacked by freedom of expression campaigners, who say the legislation is more likely to have the opposite effect.
A letter to the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, from the leaders of Index on Censorship, English PEN and Article 19 warns the government’s plans – including a free speech enforcer with powers to fine universities – “may have the inverse effect of further limiting what is deemed ‘acceptable’ speech on campus and introducing a chilling effect both on the content of what is taught and the scope of academic research exploration”.
