Government’s Legal Advisors Accused: Full Frontal Attack on Whistleblowers

The legal advisors of the government have been accused of launching a full frontal attack on whistleblowers. This follows over the proposals to fundamentally increase prison sentences for prosecuting journalists and revealing state secrets. 

Downing Street in London, strongly believes that due to the digital age it has become easy for government employees to disclose vast amount of sensitive information. Hence, an important revamp of existing secrecy legislation is necessary as per the Guardian. 

It is certainly important for any government to maintain secrecy on sensitive information for the betterment of the sate and the nation. The legal advisors have stated that the maximum prison sentence for people who leak sensitive information should be raised for two to fourteen years. The draft recommendations from legal advisors also say the definition of espionage should be expanded by including passing on information as well as obtaining them.

According to the Press Reader, the Law Commissioner Professor David Ormerod said that they have scrutinized the law and consulted widely with the media and human rights organizations. As for Liberty a meeting was held not on the understanding that this was a consultation. Reports have also stated that Liberty does not consider themselves to have been properly consulted.  

It came as a surprise for the Chief Executive of Public Concern at Work Cathy James, to see her in the whistleblowing charity listed as being involved. She stated that this has been a huge backward step and they all have been very worried about the extent of the provision in the recommendations.

On the other hand the Chief Executive of the Open Rights Group Jim Killock, confirmed that they have not been involved in the consultation. According to Killock, it directly aimed at the Guardian and Edward Snowden. All these issues led the government's legal advisors accused for a full frontal attack on whistleblowers. 

Tags

Whistleblowers Law, Cathy James, Edward Snowden, David Ormerod

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