Home Office meeting report back
On Wednesday 19 April 2006 community groups affected by the proposals met with officials at the Home
Office and had a very fruitful meeting to discuss the proposed criminalisation
of the possession of extreme pornography.
The discussions reassured us that &\#45\; at the present time at least - any
plans to criminalise the viewing of extreme pornographic imagery will be
much less far-reaching than had been indicated in the Government's
consultation paper.
Officials explained that the intent had never been to criminalise
material which it wasn&\#39\;t already an offence to publish or distribute under
the Obscene Publications Act.
They agreed that the range of imagery that it was reasonable to make it a
criminal offence to view had to be restricted to much more extreme imagery
than that which had been originally discussed. It was suggested that only
images that are pornographic and clearly and explicitly show activities
which are life threatening or result in serious disabling injury should be
included.
The Home Office also said they would like to continue to discuss the
proposals with us as they evolved.
It was clear from the meeting that the opinion of Rabinder Singh QC, paid
for by money you helped to raise, and the huge number of submissions from
individuals had helped to inform them about the potential risks inherent in
their original plans.
The Home Office representatives said they had received over 400 responses,
313 from individuals and 82 from organisations and the majority of
individuals were against the proposals.
The Home Office had also held meetings with broadcast companies, the BBFC
and the Internet Watch Foundation.
Shooting the Messenger
The internet is a convenient scapegoat for society's ills.
The UK government is to legislate how best to imprison potentially many people for viewing content on the internet.
How should governments regulate the details of our personal lives and control individual expression ?
Preserve Individual Freedoms
Backlash campaigns to ensure the right remedies are applied to the right problems.
Whilst doing so we preserve hard won individual rights and liberties.
See no evil.
The government doesn't want you to view certain images. And will send you to prison if you possess them. Even in the privacy of your own home.