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05 March 2020 / Nicholas Dobson
Issue: 7877 / Categories: Features , Public , Human rights
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Free Speech in ‘this twittering world’

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Despite clear rights to freedom of expression, those using Twitter would do well to consider the possible consequences, says Nicholas Dobson
  • College of Policing ‘Hate Crime Operational Guidance’ was lawful.
  • Disproportionate interference with the claimant’s right to freedom of expression.

According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Xerxes I of Persia (commenting on what he mistakenly took to be a valiantly supportive war manoeuvre by Queen Artemisia of Caria) said: ‘My men have turned into women and my women into men’.

However, if Xerxes were around in the UK today, with the widespread ‘dogmatic belief’ that ‘that trans women are literally women. . .trans men are literally men, and . . .any dissent on this point must automatically be transphobic’ (per Professor Kathleen Stock, Professor of Philosophy at Sussex University), Xerxes may have been irked to find his comment recorded as a ‘non-crime hate incident’.

For that’s what happened to former police officer, Harry Miller. Following the Government’s 2018 consultation on reforms to the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (which proposed replacing current certification requirements

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Anthony Collins—20 promotions

Anthony Collins—20 promotions

20 promotions mark major people investment at national law firm, Anthony Collins

Sidley—Elaine Whiteford

Sidley—Elaine Whiteford

Sidley adds competition litigator Elaine Whiteford in London

Charles Russell Speechlys—Claudina D’Costa

Charles Russell Speechlys—Claudina D’Costa

Charles Russell Speechlys welcomes Claudina D’Costa as Director of Client Development Marketing

NEWS
The 25th Pro Bono Week begins today until 6 November, with events hosted by law firms, chambers, law schools and charities across the UK
Pro bono is celebrating a silver anniversary, with initiatives putting businesses and students at the heart of access to justice
Choosing the wrong expert can cost a clinical negligence claimant more than their case
Judges risk weakening their own independence by staying silent over government reforms, a leading public lawyer argues
A discount on damages does not automatically mean an equivalent haircut for legal costs in military deafness claims
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