As of tomorrow our article will be on its 7th day on Lib Dem Voice as the number one article for a whole week.
But we wanted to explain why we as liberals cannot in good conscience, support the OSA and why we felt that now is the time to lead in our party.
A thread 🧵
But we wanted to explain why we as liberals cannot in good conscience, support the OSA and why we felt that now is the time to lead in our party.
A thread 🧵
Historically, the Liberal Democrats have been the party of civil liberties.
In 1939, the government introduced ID cards to help keep people safe during WWII.
However, what we’ve learned about government is that once they increase their control, they don’t give it up easily.
In 1939, the government introduced ID cards to help keep people safe during WWII.
However, what we’ve learned about government is that once they increase their control, they don’t give it up easily.
However, in 1950 Harry Willcock, a Liberal Party activist was asked for his ID card and responded with the famous words “I am a liberal and I am against this sort of thing”
He went on trial for refusing to produce his ID card and who came to his defence…
He went on trial for refusing to produce his ID card and who came to his defence…
A team of prominent liberal lawyers, including Achibold Marshall, Emrys Roberts MP and Basil Wigoder who all appeared pro bono.
Similarly in 2006 when Labour passed the Identity Cards Act it was the Liberal Democrats who led the campaign against it because civil liberties
Similarly in 2006 when Labour passed the Identity Cards Act it was the Liberal Democrats who led the campaign against it because civil liberties
are not just what we believe, they are part of our identity as people.
The UK isn’t a “papers please” society, it is a society that respects the individual and champions individual freedom to do what you want without harming others.
In a digital age, that right to privacy is
The UK isn’t a “papers please” society, it is a society that respects the individual and champions individual freedom to do what you want without harming others.
In a digital age, that right to privacy is
more important than ever.
The OSA is well intentioned, it legitimately tried to solve the tricky balance between internet regulation and personal privacy.
But we argue in trying to protect children, it gets the balance wrong.
The age verification is a key example of this
The OSA is well intentioned, it legitimately tried to solve the tricky balance between internet regulation and personal privacy.
But we argue in trying to protect children, it gets the balance wrong.
The age verification is a key example of this
because it introduces age requirements for material deemed to be harmful, but the state is over interpreting it and clamping down on websites such as Wikipedia and speeches by MPs, the right to information and to hear your leaders are both vital components of our democracy.
Similarly the age verification has such an easy workaround in the form of VPNs.
However VPNs are often closely tied to the dark web meaning that children will work around the ban and then access even more extreme material.
However VPNs are often closely tied to the dark web meaning that children will work around the ban and then access even more extreme material.
In requiring the use of identifying documents the act leaves internet users open to blackmail, unless you’re breaking the law, one needs to have their browsing history exposed to the world it’s a violation of your privacy. And breaking the law is already covered.
So we oppose it because the way it has been written fails to provide the safeguards needed to make it safe and the good drafting needed to make it effective.
Therefore we’re calling on our party, the lib dems to stand by our heritage and oppose this legislation.
Therefore we’re calling on our party, the lib dems to stand by our heritage and oppose this legislation.
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