Anti-terror bill may curb academic freedom – ex-MI5 chief

A former British intelligence chief has warned that the government’s Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill could restrict freedom of speech in universities, reports RT. Baroness Manningham-Buller said during a debate at the House of Lords last week that extremist opinions need to be “exposed, challenged and countered”, rather than banned.

Her comments follow a report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights earlier this month, which warned new counter-terrorism laws would “restrict” freedom of speech on university campuses. Senior academics have called for a campaign against the bill, arguing it could turn university staff into “thought police”.

New legislation includes plans to make the government’s ‘Prevent’ strategy a statutory obligation for universities, meaning education institutions would have a legal duty to ban speakers who are considered “extremist.”
Full report on the RT site