Bloggers: Tashko Mihaylov and Diana Adebayo. Picture: Holly Allison.
A panel discussion about how to draw the line between human rights and national security has taken place at London Metropolitan University. Journalism students gathered Brigadier Geoffrey Dodds
of the Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee, Adam Wagner and Jem Collins from campaigning group RightsInfo, and Rachael Jolley, editor of Index on Censorship.
As it happened…..
4:46pm- The panelists are welcomed: Jem Collins, Adam Wagner, Rachael Jolley and Brigadier Geoffrey Dodds. A video is played about warning signs that threaten human rights, a short
documentary about people who grew up during traumatic times such as the Holocaust.
5:00pm- Presenter Simon Cadman asks Rachel about Index on Censorship: she explains how the magazine reports on freedom of expression and it is also a campaigning group.
5:05pm- Adam and Jem talk about their RightsInfo organisation which aims to make people more aware about their human rights.
5:06pm- Geoffrey gives a brief introduction to the Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee, which advises the media on national security matters. He says free speech is very
important for the public.
5:13pm- First question from the journalism students is for Geoffrey, about the effectiveness of the DSMAC and if it ever fails. “It has never been rejected so I believe it is effective. I don’t offer
advice until it is needed. My advice is fair.”
He’s asked if there are plans to include online and social media in the work of the committee.
“Over the next 12 months I would like to be more positive and think that social media would come
on board.”
5:18pm- Addressing the question of sensitive armed forces material Rachel says: “Revealing information might put people’s lives at risk – I think it’s about getting that balance right and making
sure the information put out is in the public interest.”
5:21pm-Rachel’s asked if privacy is only for people in power. She says: “Privacy is for everyone and I think we should be careful for our own privacy.”
5:23pm- The next question is if Brexit will have a positive or negative impact on human rights in the UK. ‘’We need to be very aware it could have a negative impact,” says Jem.
5:27- Simon asks the audience to raise their hands if they’re worried about the impact
leaving the EU will have?
The vast majority are worried.
5.28- Adam says “Human rights are not meant to be in opposition to national security.When it comes to terrorist suspects, they should have all of the human rights that we have.”
5:33- “Are Julian Assange and Ed Snowden are enemies of the people, or friends?” is the next question.” Geoffrey says the information was released “without any sense of responsibility… it did damage national security.”
5:35 – Simon asks him about the view from some in the USA who called for Assange to be assassinated. Geoffrey says. “ I don’t think that’s a view – it’s outrageous that someone would be
assassinated for whistleblowing.”
Adam says: “The press is extremely cynical of government trying to prevent things from publishing”
5:37- The next topic is whether internet trolls should also have freedom to say what they like.
Rachel says: “Who is a troll? How are we deciding? Sometimes people label other people trolls because they disagree with their opinion. Social media is turning people away from discussion.
But we have to be really careful from cutting ourselves from opinions that we don’t agree with.”
5:41- Adam says he loves social media and the fact that it’s innovative and suddenly people can say what they want. “We need to celebrate everything that comes with social media… people are
angry, happy etc and that is a mirror to their emotions and what they feel, who they are. Who can decide what the difference is between fair and unfair?”
5:47- Geoffrey is asked whether if intelligence operations are targeted towards specific religions and cultures, isn’t it a conflict with human rights. He says: “Never, ever has any operation [by
British forces] been targeted against religion, cultures at all… never. It just won’t be acceptable. It’s against the Geneva Convention.”
The questioner points to stop and search and the targeting of mosques. Adam says sometimes there is ‘sloppy’ police work.
5:53- The next question refers to Theresa May’s speech after the Manchester bombing when she said: “If our human rights stop us from doing it, we will change the laws so we can do it.
Jem: “At the moment I think the laws are quite balanced about dealing with terrorism.”
Adam: “Beware politicians who say we need to change the laws on human rights – we need to
guard our rights and how they are protected because they come from many many years of
experience.”
Rachel: “These rights are being used to protect these groups of minorities that are different than
you.”
Geoffrey: “I don’t think she meant what she said.”
The debate ends with a RightsInfo video called Give Me Back My Son, about Mark Neary’s fight to get back his autistic son Stephen who was taken into care for a year.
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