The suppression of free speech does not always come from the state. It sometimes arises through social mechanisms that pressure individuals into silence. In some countries, this form of social coercion has become so pervasive that it rivals the scale and impact of censorship in authoritarian regimes.
In response to this growing threat, an independent review was carried out in the United Kingdom last year. It not only surveyed the extent of the problem but also introduced a new term - freedom-restricting harassment (FRH) - that, in my view, is a useful addition to the modern political lexicon.
Below, I am sharing excerpts from The Khan Review: executive summary, key findings and recommendations, published on the official website of the UK government.
A Union Jack is set alight. Photograph: Yahoo News
“The current winds of extremism, polarisation and democratic disruption combined with social and economic issues may cause even more unrest. Social unrest and the erosion of democratic freedoms do not happen overnight, and acting to mitigate against such threats through early intervention is critical. Prevention is far more effective than cure, and prevention comes in the form of long-term work to build cohesion and resilience over time, as well as deploying pre-emptive interventions to early warning signs.”
“What this Review has termed ‘freedom-restricting harassment’ has become widespread and is corroding both social cohesion and our democratic rights and freedoms.”
“The Reviewer calls this freedom-restricting harassment (FRH), defined as when people experience or witness threatening, intimidatory or abusive harassment online and/or offline which is intended to make people or institutions censor or self-censor out of fear. This may or may not be part of a persistent pattern of behaviour.”
“FRH involves but is not limited to, acts of doxing, inciting hatred and violence against individuals and their families, sending death and rape threats, and other forms of threatening behaviour. This form of harassment and resultant censorship is creating a ‘chilling impact’ on freedom of expression and other democratic freedoms.”
“From intimidating and censoring journalists, those working in the arts and culture sector, to academics and teachers as well as non-governmental organisations and those engaged in civil society, freedom-restricting harassment is a wider societal threat that is impacting Britons across all walks of life.”
“To better understand the extent to which people in the United Kingdom experience freedom-restricting harassment, the Review commissioned an online omnibus poll which involved a nationally representative sample of 1,279 respondents aged 16+ in the UK.”
“A large majority (85%) of the public believe freedom-restricting harassment currently occurs in the UK, with 60% believing the problem is worse than 5 years ago. 44% of respondents have witnessed FRH online, and equally 44% said they have witnessed FRH in person.”
“76% of the public reported having restricted expressing their personal views in public, out of fear of receiving FRH either to themselves or their loved ones. Additionally, 47% of respondents reported having witnessed others experiencing FRH which had then resulted in self-censorship.”
“The impact of freedom-restricting harassment on people is broad. Of the 27% of respondents answering they’ve experienced ‘life altering’ FRH, when provided with options for how their life has been altered, 77% reported either not being able to fully express their opinion or experiencing a decline in their personal freedom. 61% of this group experiencing life altering FRH have taken specific actions, with 20% coming off social media and 17% saying they had taken additional security measures. Overall, one in eight in this group reported life changing events and actions, including 15% having lost or changed their job and 13% having moved house.”
“The majority of the public are concerned about the impact of FRH on individual liberty. 72% agreed that FRH undermines people’s ability to live and speak freely in our country, while 69% feel that people are having to censor the way they live their professional or personal lives due to FRH.”
“Concern also extends to the harm freedom-restricting harassment has on public life and social cohesion. 70% agree that FRH has had a negative effect on people living well together in our society, while 69% agree that FRH in public life is likely to put off other people from contributing to public life in the future.”
“Freedom-restricting harassment does not only undermine pluralism. It strikes at the heart of our liberal and cohesive democracy, contributing to a slow and insidious erosion of our democratic rights and freedoms. Without determined action, FRH will continue to operate below the radar and drive a toxic, censorious and pervasive culture antithetical to our democratic way of life which must be resisted.”
To read the full report, follow the link.
Sara Khan, the author of the report, “a Muslim from Bradford”, an independent adviser for social cohesion and resilience, “having been attacked by the hard left and far right as well as Islamist groups.” Photograph: Sara Khan
