Stop the Government's
Censorship
The Home Office has begun a process to make it illegal to possess extreme adult images.
These plans could lead to people being imprisoned for viewing images on the internet.
This is a step too far from a government determined to regulate every aspect of our lives and quash individual expression.
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Backlash is the campaigning organisation bringing together individuals and activist groups to oppose this legislation.
Via the Spanner Trust we sought our own independent advice from Rabinder Singh QC, a leading human rights lawyer at Matrix Chambers (yes, that's right, the same chambers as the Prime Minister's wife), since the Home Office provided no justification for their bald assertion that "our proposal [is] compatible" with the Human Rights Act.
Our QC's opinion concludes " I consider that the legislation as proposed gives rise to real concerns as to its compatibility with an individual's rights under Articles 8 and 10 of the Convention."
We are deciding what to do next, whilst the government consider public responses.
As plans emerge or fresh hard information comes to light, we will publish them here, like the Glasgow meeting below (Scotland is leading the way, having published their responses - at least, those that got through the firewall blocking "inappropriate words" - first).
A major priority will be lobbying civil servants and members of both Houses of Parliament. We need to ensure they are aware of the potential for significant unintended consequences if they force ahead in reaction to an emotional public campaign.
We intend to make our position clear and palatable and also make it obvious that pushing through these propsals could have major unexpected societal costs.
These responses might also be of interest.
Formal Government consultations about possible new laws ended in December 2005. They are now assessing responses - at least, those that got through their firewall blocking "inappropriate words" - and drafting legislation.
Backlash is considering how to address the real problems.
There has been some positive news. The Home Office has told more than one Backlash group off the record that they do not intend to threaten the BDSM community. They have even suggested discussions to consider our specific concerns.
There were more than 370 responses to the consultation that actually got through. Read the ones from Scotland here. The first is from someone who says he wouldn't want to live next door to a person who looks at these kind of pictures, and things get worse from there...
Many responses are from Backlash supporters. So well done and thank you. We must maintain a strong campaign group ready to challenge the erroneous arguments.
Thursday 06 April 2006 at 7pm. 2nd Floor George House, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow G1 2AD.
Come and find out what has been happening behind the scenes on your behalf and future plans to safeguard the BDSM scene in Scotland.
We will also discuss the recent unfavourable publicity from the tabloid press about Perth and Edinburgh and address how we can deal with this growing problem.
The meeting is open to the whole of the BDSM scene in Scotland and the UK, no matter who you are or who you represent. We understand Spanner Trustees, SM Pride and other UK scene representatives wish to attend.
The venue is a private conference hall in Glasgow City Centre, right by Queen Street Station. It is not in licensed premises. The press will be excluded from this initial meeting, as part of it will concern their recent attitude towards the scene.
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