Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #OfficialSecrets

Most recents (6)

📢 We are urging peers to amend the National Security Bill whose Lords 2nd reading is today. It creates wide offences for people who use ‘restricted’ info to prejudice key govt policies if they have been funded by any non-UK government.

#FOI #NationalSecurity #officialsecrets Clause 1 of the National Security Bill (Obtaining or disclos
Civil society orgs with grants from friendly govts for work on environment, human rights, press freedom, asylum, aid etc may commit an offence by using such info to block govt policies. Journalists working for non-UK state broadcasters may also be at risk.
Info is ‘restricted’ if people know or should know govt does not wish to release it to protect UK interests. These are determined by govt and could include energy policies damaging to the environment or measures to limit asylum.
Read 4 tweets
This afternoon MPs on #NationalSecurityBill Committee will debate a public interest defence for:
🔴 obtaining or disclosing trade secrets under the National Security Bill, and
🔴 the use of leaked information under the 1989 #OfficialSecrets Act.
The amendment has been tabled by @KevanJonesMP supported by @joannaccherry.

See NC6 of the Amendment Paper ⬇️
publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill…
🚨 In light of the offences that can be committed under the National Security Bill by persons with *no* involvement in terrorism or espionage we believe a public interest defence to both these charges and any under the 1989 Act is essential.
cfoi.org.uk/wp-content/upl…
Read 3 tweets
📢 MPs debate the #NationalSecurity Bill today. @CampaignFoI & @a19right2info have serious concerns about the implications of the Bill for journalists and those working for civil society organisations who receive some funding from foreign governments.
#FOI #officialsecrets
The publication of leaked information which prejudices the UK’s interests would be an offence with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The identical act by someone without foreign government funding might not be an offence at all.
CSOs based in, or with a presence in the UK, which have received foreign governments for their int'l work include: @ActionAidUK, @Anti_Slavery, @article19org, @ClientEarth, @Global_Witness, @IndexCensorship, @mediadefence, @OCCRP, @privacyint, @ReprieveUK, @TransparencyUK.
Read 4 tweets
The story of Colin Powell is unfortunately one of tragedy and failure, not struggle and success.

It’s true he was a senior officer at time when there few black senior officers.

It’s true he become a civilian leader at time there were no black civilian leaders in the US.

But.
When called upon to actually ‘lead’ Powell failed.

More correctly, he showed his true character.
By going to the UN and knowingly making a false case for war, and then afterwards shrugging it off by the simple ‘I follow orders. It’s what I do’ he revealed his true nature, and the reason for his success.
Read 12 tweets
If anyone still thinks the US are the good guys of the world consider the case of Catherine Gun.

She was a principled officer at GCHQ before the Iraq War, who (rightly) took exception to the fact the UK was tasked by the US to gather incriminating evidence on UN officials.
The reason the US wanted incriminating evidence on the UN officials was because they represented the ‘balance of power’ in the UN Security Council, and the US intended to Blackmail them to vote for war in Iraq.
That is the US was getting the UK to break the law, and be complicit in blackmail, in order to launch a war that would kill and displace (eventually) millions of people, in order to achieve US ‘foreign policy objectives’ (invasions that bring domestic electoral success)
Read 19 tweets
Our #OfficialSecrets Q&A began with a huge standing ovation for Katharine Gunn, and her act of courage to release the Iraq memo. Cheers of "Bravo" from the crowd as she took her place with @democracynow Amy Goodman and @HuffPost @lpolgreen #51Fest
@democracynow @HuffPost @lpolgreen “I was so angered by the email. War seemed imminent. This had to get out. I didn’t think for a moment what would happen to myself or my husband” - Katharine Gunn on the decision to copy the memo #51Fest
@democracynow @HuffPost @lpolgreen “The worst part was realising I couldn’t remain #anonymous” Katharine never intended to go public but felt it was her duty to speak out. #51Fest
Read 9 tweets

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