| Summary: |
The government has published its higher education (freedom of speech) bill. Despite the lack of evidence of a free speech crisis in the sector, and the use of no platform elsewhere and on digital platforms, under the bill, universities will have a new duty to secure freedom of speech for staff members, students and visiting speakers. A new Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom will be given powers to decide if courses, talks or university policies maintain academic freedom. Most troublingly, anyone (“a person”) will be able to sue (“bring civil proceedings”) where they believe that a university or student union has failed to protect free speech.
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