Guest
Secretive Covid-era ‘spy’ agency brought in to monitor social media during riots National Security Online Information Team, to play central role in response to violence sweeping UK A secretive government agency used to “spy on” anti-lockdown campaigners during the Covid pandemic The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU), (set up in March 2020 to combat “false coronavirus information online” now named, National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT) (just months after MPs called for an independent review of its activities) Peter Kyle, Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Has asked NSOIT to monitor online activity (after 3 children murdered) Privileged access to social media moderators Monitored by Counter Disinformation Unit Professor Carl Heneghan, (Director Oxford Centre for EBM) Molly Kingsley, (keep schools open) David Davis MP who (called for the CDU to be shut down) Big Brother Watch Described the Counter Disinformation Unit “one of the most opaque units in Government outside the security services” and accused it of “spying on” free speech. Silkie Carlo “There are serious questions as to whether (National Security Online Information Team) NSOIT is fit for this task, given its chilling track record of monitoring the lawful and accurate speech of journalists, scientists, parliamentarians, human rights advocates and members of the public during the pandemic when they rightly questioned the government’s pandemic management. “It’s worrying to see NSOIT brought into action shortly after its controversial activities were exposed, and before it has been subject to the important independent review the culture committee called for.” “a deceptively-named shadowy Whitehall cell, which operates far beyond national security” If the Government were to stray into censoring lawful free speech it could “inflame tensions and distrust rather than promote social harmony”. Commons culture, media and sport committee, April 2024 questioned “the lack of transparency and accountability of [NSOIT] and the appropriateness of its reach” Universal Declaration of Human Rights Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law, Article 7 All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. Article 9 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. Article 10 Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, Article 18 Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; Article 19 Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Article 20 Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. Article 27 Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. Article 30 Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Magna Carta, 1215 In future no official shall place a man on trial upon his own unsupported statement, without producing credible witnesses to the truth of it. No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions … except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land. We will appoint as justices, constables, sheriffs, or other officials, only men that know the law of the realm and are minded to keep it well.
