Masked protesters could soon face arrest, says Home Office
www.theguardian.com
Rights groups say proposed police powers for England and Wales are pandering to ‘culture war nonsense’

"Protesters who wear masks could face arrest, up to a month in jail and a £1,000 fine under proposed measures that human rights campaigners claim are pandering to “culture war nonsense”.

Police in England and Wales will be given the power to arrest people if they are wearing face coverings at specific demonstrations, the Home Office has said."

Been a bad 18 months or so for privacy in the UK. Online Safety Bill passed, the right to take strike action curtailed, people in receipt of benefits (including disabled people) will soon (as from 2025) have their bank accounts open to the government, the right to protest curtailed and now this.

  • soviettaters@lemm.ee
    220·
    9 months ago

    People hate on the US all the time, but the first amendment is very unique when you consider how other countries are curtailing people’s right to protest, practice their religion, etc.

    • Leraje@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOP
      301·
      9 months ago

      An argument that might carry weight if you weren’t setting up hotlines for people to snitch on anything or anyone vaguely LGBTQIA+, removing books from libraries, allowing huge orgs to buy political favour, enslaving people in for-profit prison systems etc etc etc.

      • soviettaters@lemm.ee
        238·
        9 months ago
        1. Kids shouldn’t be coerced into being gay.
        2. Yeah lobbying sucks I agree
        3. If people don’t want to have to work in prison then they shouldn’t commit crimes.
        • irmoz@reddthat.com
          331·
          9 months ago

          Kids aren’t being “coerced into being gay”. That’s a batshit statement right there.

          Also, slavery is always bad. End of story. Putting any leeway in there is disgusting.

        • Restaldt@lemm.eeEnglish
          171·
          9 months ago

          Kids are not coerced in to being gay any more than geese are

          Lobbying sucks

          We are just ignoring the litany of false accusation and arrests of innocent people forced into modern legal slave labor?

          Better hope you never piss off the wrong cop or can afford a good personally retained lawyer if you do

        • jmankman@lemmy.myserv.one
          5·
          9 months ago

          For the crime of homelessness, you are sentenced to a just lifetime of servitude in a for-profit prison. So righteous.

    • spacecowboy@sh.itjust.works
      225·
      9 months ago

      lol you Americans thinking your little piece of paper written centuries ago makes you better than other countries is cute.

      Your country is not the beacon of freedom you pretend it is.

    • li10@lemmy.ml
      10·
      9 months ago

      Pretty good if actually mattered.

      It’s a talking point that’s only upheld on political whim, which defeats the entire purpose of it.