Blog Posts
Government makes move towards increased web censorship
The government yesterday announced its intention to run a consultation into reducing the ability for under 18s to access pornography. Whilst sounding noble in aim, any implementation is most likely to be based around credit card verification and blocking of sites which are found to be non-compliant. This is a […]
Information for current Backlash clients
A member of the Backlash Management Team was dismissed on the 3rd July. Their roles and responsibilities will be distributed amongst other members of the team. If you have any queries or concerns, please contact us via email at contact@backlash-uk.org.uk and we will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.
Myles Jackman: Don’t criminalise the selfie-generation
Cross-posted from Myles Jackman By criminalising young people between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, our political and justice systems show how disconnected they are from technological change and social values, which is especially worrying so close to an election where politicians have been exploiting selfie culture. After an NSPCC […]
Guardian: Sexting could see teenagers branded as sex offenders
Damien Gayle covers Backlash’s warning that ‘criminalising 16- to 18-year-olds for sending explicit pictures to one another shows how disconnected the political establishment is from changes to technology and social values’. Read his article here
Major political parties fail to halt mass criminalisation of young people
Civil liberties campaign opposes labelling teen ‘sexters’ as sex offenders A politically charged moral panic over young people’s attitudes to sexuality is leading to Internet censorship and the labelling of ordinary young people as sex offenders, civil liberties campaign Backlash warns today. Backlash will campaign for a change in the […]
Myles Jackman – new website launch
Myles Jackman, solicitor advocate and legal adviser to Backlash, has launched a new website dedicated to advice on sexual freedom and the law. Jackman has frequently provided pro bono work for individuals caught up in laws regulating sex acts, and their depictions, between consenting adults. He also has expertise advising […]
Lord Chief Justice Thomas mistaken: Internet porn does not turn people into murderers
Lord Thomas has claimed that Internet pornography was ‘a contributing factor in one of the most gruesome murder cases he had to rule on last year’ (see also the Daily Telegraph). As someone who has to sit in judgement over some of the worst offences committed in the United Kingdom, […]
Opposition to censorship from left to right and everywhere else
“Currently, the BBFC bans video featuring female ejaculation. It seems ludicrous that in 2014, we could be criminalising people who record and distribute video of a healthy anatomical event” – D H Kelly, The F Word “Why anyone in their right mind would hand any more power to the state […]
Media coverage of new censorship of VoD services
The new Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2014, coming into force attracted widespread coverage in the popular press criticising the move, and suggesting general popular support for Backlash’s stance against censorship. The Mirror The Independent The Daily Mail The Guardian New Statesmen The Huffington Post
New powers to censor digital media are a threat to free expression
Backlash launches challenge against attempt to shut down British websites with adult content Today, the Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2014(1), a new law governing online media, comes into force in the UK. Backlash(2) will challenge the legality of this new regulation as a new threat to free expression. The law […]