Open letter to the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression

Carnegie UK has written an open letter to the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Irene Khan, co-signed by other civil society campaigners, which sets out why the harmful but legal provisions in the Online Safety Bill need to be retained. Far from being a threat to free speech, as opponents of the Bill have argued, these provisions provide vital protections for people, such as women and those from minority groups, whose own right to free speech is otherwise threatened by hate speech or online abuse which is intended to intimidate or silence them.

The letter is co-signed by Prof Lorna Woods (University of Essex), Baroness Beeban Kidron (5 Rights Foundation), Seyi Akiwowo (Glitch), Andrea Simon (End Violence against Women Coalition), Imran Ahmed (Centre for Countering Digital Hate), Danny Stone (Antisemitism Policy Trust) and Joe Mulhall (Hope Not Hate).