'I was arrested over a meme' Britain's free speech crisis explained

[@whome5810]

Arresting people for causing "hurty feelings"!? FFS!

[@SotaBoy4232]

And people wonder why others make fun of British people 😂

[@MugSack]

​@@SotaBoy4232I don't think it's the only country that does this

[@jimjoelliejack]

I’ve lived in the UK for 60 years now, I am truly depressed and despondent at the direction that this country has taken, it’s complete madness. George Orwell must have had a crystal ball.

[@leonardgibney2997]

It's far worse than anything Orwell could have dreamt up.

[@martinabcbeers]

And when we read that at school ,it was under science fiction

[@howardlambert121]

@@leonardgibney2997 Yeah... Someone should tell the Home Secretary that 1984 was a warning not an instruction book,

[@leonbell5141]

They’ve stopped teaching Orwell in school…their teaching Marxism 🤷🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

[@brettmeikle]

Indeed. That Brexit fiasco being right at the forefront of it. The world is laughing!

[@jhfdhgvnbjm75]

Do we have free speech in Britain? I'm not allowed to say...

[@allencollins6031]

Lol

[@kyleroy2226]

LL....very well put.

[@tedhewitt677]

No

[@NightsideOfParadise]

...that immigrants ruined your big cities with crime.

[@supergonk6485]

Bro better take this comment down before the constables show up at their dopr

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

Someone was stabbed at the top of my Street last week. The police still haven't found the low life criminal. No doubt too busy out arresting folks for saying words.

[@peterholy953]

Criminals are too dangerous. It is much easier to go after ordinary people.

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

It happened inbetween a row of shops and traffic lights, in broad daylight. There are cameras all over the place.

[@aynos629]

@Cannock Dogger don't be ridiculous pls. They do have other methods they don't only rely on witnesses. If they could catch criminals in the 20th Century, sure they can catch them now. If they try

[@Theactivepsychos]

@@TheRetroManRandySavage so get a solicitor to access the cameras. Don’t leave it

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

@@Theactivepsychos I'm guessing the police have already done that. Surely they aren't that incompetent. 😂👍

[@karl323]

Free speech is at stake. People shouldn't be arrested for causing offence. The law needs to be changed if it allows the police to do this.

[@iggle6448]

Well, common law reiterated in the Harry Miller case is that we don't have the right to be offended. There is no lawful case and I guess that's why they call it a non-crime and put the accused on watch lists - the legality of which is very dubious!

[@iggle6448]

@Cannock Dogger 💯

[@offshoretomorrow3346]

Edit required!

[@jeremysmith8035]

its interesting that when politicians try to dictate speech they elect economically illiterate imbeciles such as truss

[@billycorgan3934]

Discrimination against someone because it's gender is not constitutional in democratic countries. There is no free speech to discriminate and cause hate against a social vulnerable community.

[@marcatteberry1361]

Sending the police to investigate a joke, said by a comedian, at a paid event, is a clear sign that the government needs reform. Ask James Acaster.

[@rogerwoodhouse7945]

@Cannock Dogger Are they 'duty bound' to solve real crimes?

[@90sterrier86]

IT WOULD BE WORSE UNDER A LABOUR GOVERNMENT.

[@rogerwoodhouse7945]

@@90sterrier86 Worse in what way?They would just continue the gradual decline of this country.Both parties have outstayed their welcome.Time for real change.For 'real men' to step up.

[@90sterrier86]

@@rogerwoodhouse7945 totally agree mate. Worse in the way that they have gone too far left.

[@joecarty8579]

It’s because the Government listen to screaming minority groups as opposed to the majority.

[@furtwangler5283]

"The only question is... 'Are we on the right side of the Law'. " Not quite.... the Gestapo were 'on the right side of the law'... 'The Law' is merely the means by which those who hold power enforce their will.

[@engledelaffety4380]

Excellent point

[@derekscanlan4641]

the law is what those with power say it is

[@ChiefWizard666]

The point that Harry was making referred to the law in England and Wales, as it was then and basically still is. He was on the right side of the law, the British 'Gestapo/Stasi' were proven to be on the wrong side of the law. Hence the judge making reference to the organisations in question.

[@aliasofanalias7448]

Laws only exist in physics; these aren't laws, they're broken all the time

[@hospitalsgivingpatientsdan8894]

FREEDOM NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT FOR

[@Carma123]

I find it barking mad that the UK police concern themselves with people who “like” videos or have a personal opinion.

[@peterholy953]

Real criminals are too intimidating for police so they harass defenseless people. Smart. No?

[@iggle6448]

@nicholas carter What do we mean by 'radicalised'?

[@savannahglebe5165]

@nicholas carter Oh get a grip

[@joecarty8579]

It’s not the Uk Police force as such, it’s an element within who have their own agenda.

[@ianmcconnell5973]

@@joecarty8579 and yet.... those rank and file Police Officers gleefully go along with it all to put on display their acceptance and "woke" credentials. Enforcement of such madness is of course an easy path to cooking the books when it comes to statistics for crimes tackled or solved! Any Police Officer enforcing such madness is not worthy of the uniform they are wearing and should e removed from the force, from top to bottom.

[@leonardgibney2997]

The police come to tell tweeters to 'change their thinking'. It's not OUR thinking that's needs changing, it's THEIRS.

[@Schroefdoppie]

What boggles the mind is, why did they join the police force and just go along with this BS?

[@jf7243]

All good British humble British folk, should be mot thankful for this brave courageous gentleman.

[@AleXoEx0]

He's not even taking a stance, it's just a fairly balanced investigation.

[@robertferguson851]

Some of these British police officers need to lose their jobs.

[@davidmarsden2012]

Haha understatement

[@somebody9825]

firing people for political reasons sounds orwellian

[@robertferguson851]

@@somebody9825 Restricting people's freedom of speech also sounds Orwellian.

[@punishedgloyperstormtroope8098]

All of them need to. ABOLISH THE BRITISH POLICE! The people should defend themselves instead, they would do a much better job and without police they would actually be able to defend themselves without getting arrested and going to jail

[@TheSapphire51]

No its the politicans who make these laws that need to loose their jobs so people have to vote them out for this lunacy and their utter incompetence in running the country.

[@two_tier_gary_rumain]

I wonder why, after years of blocking comments, The Telegraph decides to allow comments on this video.

[@Clodhopping]

Entrapment?

[@richardc861]

Yes there is a motive in doing this, not sure it’s good

[@angelawatson7740]

Simple. click bait.

[@joecarty8579]

It’s because they have been suppressing free speech by muting comments but they might feel hypocritical doing it on this video.

[@xinpingdonohoe3978]

Because there would be an ugly irony with them limiting speech on a video about free speech.

[@archiebald4717]

The UK is stark raving bonkers!

[@Adamska_01]

George Orwell wrote 1984 as a warning for posterity… And now thought crime is real, what the hell

[@Runrunshaw100]

Thought crimes and facecrimes. Remember?

[@01matthewc]

This video is exactly why I'll never, ever have a Twitter account. I've survived nearly 4 decades without a Twitter account and I'll quite happily make do without one for the rest of my life.

[@greenandpleasant5523]

Very sensible. It's a cesspit of spite and lies.

[@angelawatson7740]

Twitter is based upon lies and algorithms that suppress the truth , endorsing lies and hate.

[@bazsnell3178]

I'm not subscribed to ANY so-called Social Media sites. Somebody said, and it really hit home to me, that ''once on the Internet, always on the Internet''. A young girl who posted a picture of her breasts on TikTok 5 years ago could be refused a job now 5 years later. Unsubscribe right now from this madness.

[@bertiewooster3326]

I have a Twitter account it's completely false they cannot track the real me impossible.

[@mohammedjafer9265]

@@bertiewooster3326 keep telling yourself that

[@jamesoneill5070]

I remember the Liverpool police poster saying 'being offensive is a crime'. That left them red faced!

[@leonardgibney2997]

It's the police who're offensive.

[@neilchaplin8235]

Absolutely ridiculous! This isn’t policing!

[@tonybmw5785]

I likely disagree with Harry Miller on many things but I'll stand up and defend his right to say them.

[@davesmith3892]

The whole world is going nuts

[@somebody9825]

that's fine, because I like nuts...

[@gleelights9525]

@@somebody9825 🌝🚂🚋🚃🚋🚃🚋🚃

[@AMan-jg8rf]

Incredible times we live in! The corruption, tyranny, and silencing of truth is out of control!!

[@charlesstewart9246]

We're all living in a free world. In Britain we're free as long as we do as we're told!

[@xinpingdonohoe3978]

And if we don't, we get free accommodation with free food and a free bed.

[@somebody9825]

I like doing what I'm told😳 but I also like being naughty😳

[@charlesstewart9246]

@@somebody9825 there's a story in that statement🤫 don't we all like a little naughtiness 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍😇😳

[@outlawbillionairez9780]

The only response to offensive speech is MORE speech.

[@JJONNYREPP]

'I was arrested over a meme' Britain's free speech crisis explained 1807pm 1.9.22 so yer gonna post stuff on social media which people will be aware of ie: they'll know if they'll be offended by said post or not....................... and yet they can force themselves to watch the post and then claim they've been offended..?????

[@raquetdude]

I shall spread loads of false information and then ppl will have to spend months trying to explain how what I said is wrong. More speech doesn’t help because that doesn’t have to be factual…

[@onemoreminute0543]

Yeah, we can't engage in censorship otherwise we'll betray our standards. MORE speech is the antidote to offensive speech - that, and education

[@gleelights9525]

Decocq

[@kc0jtl]

The concept of having the right to not be offended is absolutely absurd.

[@aldorfc220]

Oh boy it's gotten worse now

[@alexbowman7582]

Speaking the truth is illegal.

[@robertbeniston]

Not to share controversial opinions? Who defines a controversial opinion? Should only one person's objection be sufficient for the police to act? Look by definition when someone says something not everyone will agree. So, are we not say anything because someone will disagree?

[@joecarty8579]

Well the so called Fact Checkers seem to have a lot of control on internet material and certain groups band together to control comments.

[@fishingwithollie1021]

People have become so weak that words break them like twigs.

[@andrewgiblin3468]

The UK is beyond laughable at this point !

[@brettmeikle]

Pal, it's been beyond laughable since June 2016.

[@the_grand_tourer]

People have taken the word 'offence' with it's two meanings out of context ... to take offence does NOT mean a crime has been committed against a person! The line has been crossed when to be offended is to be a victim of a crime! Of course, explicit threats from one person against another is criminal, but a general comment against a group, however distasteful is not and should never be illegal ... it's not about limiting just one form of discourse ... it's an erosion of open society and a step towards autocracy.

[@Man_of_Tomorrow]

A few weeks ago the Guardian had an article about how we needed STRICTER speech laws, but after protestors were arrested for saying mean things to Prince Andrew they ran an article about how important Freedom of Speech is. A lot of people here are very blasé about laws against free speech until the tide shifts and they themselves become the target. It's incredibly important that this isn't a partisan issue. Free speech shouldn't be the fight of any one side, it benefits everyone.

[@karmar22able]

Typical hypocritical Guardian.

[@heimway]

UK, EU, Olympia, wars, migration ... I am scared about in which world we live and how fast this is affecting normal people who just speak out what they think. We are running into a war

[@coolcarbon4709]

What a pathetic mess this country has become!

[@agargul]

Great that police knows their priorities. Putting a law abiding citizen in handcuffs is much easier than a criminal. Is this why 90% of burglaries go unsolved.

[@boxsterbenz4059]

unfortunately the law is changing. and hate speech is becoming whatever someone else perceives it to be.

[@jakesinclair7051]

George Orwell knew what was going on. I read the book (1984) 15 years ago, and it shocked me then. Give it another five years and we are going to be there. Welcome to dystopia. What a world

[@jbob34345]

I'm glad to see the Telegraph are reporting on this. The Police need to be sued into oblivion over this.

[@punishedgloyperstormtroope8098]

That’s not going to really work considering the justice system and police are literally on the same side both government institutions with the same goals

[@williamrisbridger60]

The police don’t make laws

[@kingkoi6542]

The UK is a communist utopia. Katanga has been brought to Britain

[@MHLivestreams]

Fast forward to 2024 and this case is very pertinent.

[@karmar22able]

In answer to your question, a big fat "Yes".

[@bruhbruh2290]

stabbings, shootings...nah just arrest people for tweeting and dance with pride carnival

[@bvbinsane1vanity]

I’m offended that people can go to the police for being offended… what should I do?

[@jaymac7203]

Report it to the police? 😭 lol

[@bamhamer]

Canada and the uk are in a race who becomes the most fascist the quickest

[@matthansberry5795]

And Australia is right behind them

[@Gia1911Logous]

Literally 1984

[@Anticommunism99]

More like 1917 Lenin style arrests

[@st.joanne]

I find this appalling. Welcome to North Korea.

[@cofa4011]

Asks the channel with commentary blocked 90% of the time ^^

[@qba4455]

Ridiculous what's become of The UK

[@scratchy1704]

Wokeness.

[@DOWNUNDER.]

Who would of thought that Monte python would be passing laws.

[@jonathanfildes220]

So basically, the government is forcing me, by law, how to think?

[@ronharris7335]

This shows how ridiculous police action is. Our Home Secretary Patel is ultimately responsible..

[@henriklorenzen7516]

What would the government do if 5 million, or 10 million, 20 million British people express themselves in the same way, and is probably the best way to stop the totalitarian state in the abolition of democracy in the UK

[@docsavage4921]

The malicious telecommunications act should be repealed.

[@SocialStoicYouTube]

The freedom to be inoffensive is no freedom at all

[@MaskOfCinder]

These officers participating in this injustice are pathetic. Free speech doesn’t exist in Europe or Canada.

[@bortstanson2034]

That's why America is better because their 1st amendment is non negotiable and it doesn't depend on a hereditary monarch's whim.

[@Alex_Aramayo]

I genuinely think every Nation should have Freedom of Speech, its a basic fundamental right that's needed for almost any kind of interaction

[@CJ-NYR]

Need an update to this since Keir’s meme police

[@georgea.lozano2619]

How about the reverse? Can normal people be offended and threatened by statements made by the fringe?

[@maryl8753]

One step closer to authoritarianism

[@jec_ecart]

Absolutely yes And absolutely all over the world. Not just UK.

[@Tbone1492]

All speech should be allowed. Especially offensive speech. That's the whole point of "free"

[@Mark-kh1ny]

Handed clear CCTV to the police of someone stealing a bike. Also where they live. And that they keep coming back and scouting the area. Talk about on a silver platter!! Took 3 weeks to come back and say we’re not following it up. Enough said……

[@bobbobbington3615]

Aaaaand... It's gotten worse.

[@vjamesg100]

We now have the thought police. George orwell.

[@baxtronicxavier]

The lady barrister gave a very impressive exposition of the problem of 127 of the communications act. She should be addressing parliament.

[@oddity4650]

The online safety bill needs changing, the only thing that should be took seriously, is; scams, threats, because the fact is their is always going to be someone who is offended at something.👍 Freedom of speech should not be restricted

[@foxfx8340]

@MrMarkoos1 Or harassment, because people that do that like to push it up until a point that they know they can get away with...

[@phonixfighter7966]

@@foxfx8340 define Harrasment.

[@winifredherman4214]

​@@foxfx8340LOL

[@Scotsfortrump]

Also online pedophiles need taken more serious than offensive memes

[@oddity4650]

@Scotsfortrump yes I totally agree, although if kair keeps allowing criminals actual criminals out, then putting meme criminals in, them he might also start releasing the nonce, the uk needs to fix different systems

[@andybray9791]

Even Hungary is less snowflake and Italy has got a proper leader now

[@jlall4467]

England is f'd with the 2 party system. The conservative party is just labour lite, so really in the uk it is pretty much a 1 party system. Other countries have a chance for better government though

[@gleelights9525]

Huh huh harrah arch shape piece on plane ride

[@lukeskywalker2116]

The definition of misogyny is anything that women don’t like.

[@ricksundberg5659]

Please don't criticise the 2nd Amendment in the U.S. when your own government is restricting your speech.

[@bomberfish77]

I thought it was the first amendment that related to free speech? I'm Canadian tho so idk either

[@commanderclaude8781]

canada does what the united states says ...canada is basically a temu version of the usa.

[@ricksundberg5659]

@@bomberfish77 2nd Amendment protects the rest and is the sole reason government doesn't run amuck.

[@Toxicberry-l3e]

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution primarily addresses the right to keep and bear arms, while the First Amendment focuses on freedoms such as speech, religion, and assembly. Maybe know your countries amendments before demanding uk people not discuss them just my opinion

[@winst0n888]

Exactly. When the 2nd falls, the 1st will follow.

[@Victoria-hz3gx]

FREE SPEECH IS A RIGHT, NOT A POLITENESS, BUT A MORAL RIGHT. NO FREE SPEECH 🟰 DICTATORSHIP! POWER TO THE PEOPLE NOT JUST THE PRIVILEGED. WHAT IS A DEMOCRACY FOR? THERE ARE MORE OF US THE PEOPLE THAN THEM AND THATS WHAT TODAYS WORLD IS; US VERSUS 🆚 THEM!!!

[@Victoria-hz3gx]

@Cannock Dogger xx 😘

[@TheScaryTruthCatalyst]

What about the Police Officer who got a *prison sentence* for a meme about George Floyd? One life ruined over a *joke* .

[@fizzel5711]

Free speech is selective isn’t it . Some things or specifically a very specific group are immune to any criticism …. Meanwhile try and call the police after a burglary or if your car has been nicked off your drive …..

[@AleXoEx0]

Oy vey!

[@punishedgloyperstormtroope8098]

Die Juden!

[@arcturus4762]

Ironic how in less than a year, the protected group changed almost completely

[@the_original_van_d]

Turns out Tommy Robinson was 100% correct about his predictions of the UK's downward spiral.

[@shaheedbhaghatsingh3974]

He was a 100% right about pakistani abdool groomong gongs as well. The entire country is affected by this

[@movieknight68]

Can we have 2-Tier arrested because I'm pretty sure almost 100% of the UK find him offensive?

[@tinkertailor7385]

Well, the Rainbow Stasi is here. The Trans thought police.

[@robchase2429]

as long as your speech agrees with the Labour party, then free speech is fine..

[@bryanbradley6871]

Yes, as an American this is unthinkable... In the US we make memes of this 😂

[@MrThe1234guy]

For now America is next.

[@bryanbradley6871]

@@MrThe1234guy pshhh free speech is an absolute guaranteed right in the US

[@MrThe1234guy]

@@bryanbradley6871 Obscenity, compelled speech incitment, fighting words are not protected.

[@IanMikrut]

​@@MrThe1234guyGuns are protected. And Guns speak louder than I ever could.

[@roskana]

This is scary stuff, people.

[@callumcoates-keddy9107]

Im bald, white and a bit short. I get ripped regularly, I dont ring the police when this happens. Though I might do.

[@GmaticLeon]

Why are they standing so far apart ??

[@TheNobbynoonar]

Everything in this country is now policed-except crime.

[@somebody9825]

yeah, thats how I threw a brick through your window and got away with it

[@thenerdgamer3044]

this aged well

[@adam_p99]

Bad taste isn’t against the law. The lads who made a grenfell tower model and set it on fire shouldn’t have been charged either.

[@coldlogic800]

Free speech does not exist in England. Now Americans get to see up close how important our Bill of Rights is.

[@nemesis851_]

Canada law also now censors public stated opinion

[@danielwhyatt3278]

One year later from this broadcast, and it really has gotten worse.😔

[@jaymac7203]

I wish I had the vocabulary to express how little I care about the "offence" of these people.

[@davedixon2068]

that is exactly the problem, people not caring about how others feel, listen to yourself

[@newblackdog7827]

All “hate” and “diversity” legislation needs to be repealed and replaced by a new Bill of Rights to enshrine everyone’s rights & obligations on the same footing, and to assert freedom of speech.

[@A2Z1Two3]

I listened to the Alex Bellfield ‘Stalking’ trial, and was entirely confident that there was NO case to answer ( the BBC’s own internal correspondence stated that no one was going to come to ANY harm from Bellfield’s emails , mostly Freedom of Information requests . Unbelievably , they managed to get him prosecuted ( but NOT , thankfully , silenced) I am not a Bellfield fan, but I dislike his would be oppressors more than anything he has said or written about any of his ‘victims’ .

[@robwalker3417]

He literally sent Jeremy Vine thousands of emails (not FOI requests) after being asked multiple times to cease, the very definition of harrassment and the very reason a jury found him guilty. Bellfield does not deserve your support, he is a deranged individual and a criminal. He was the oppressor and the jury agrees.

[@gleelights9525]

Bzzzzzt!!! Goes the buzz light year night light!!

[@peterjones6507]

I wonder if anti-misinformation legislation applies to the medical industry and the WHO. It seems highly unlikely.

[@connieroberts5368]

The real question is “Is social media really good for society or just good for the tech giants?”

[@savannahglebe5165]

It definitely needs banning. Shut all these snowflakes and their pathetic,nonsense,attention seeking platforms down.

[@rogerwoodhouse7945]

Social media is good for hearing different opinions (free speech)

[@joecarty8579]

Social Media is designed to propagate extreme left view points while at the same time suppressing popular opinion. It’s actually a form of control, hence why I deleted FB years ago.

[@colingregson8653]

The latter how many times is social media used to organise real crime !!.

[@propergander1162]

Stasi was a communist concept Facebook was an American concept 🤔

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

If only there was historical precedent for what happens when British government overreaches...

[@andrewgilbertson5356]

The Police would rather investigate non crimes rather the burglars

[@angusmacfrankenstein7227]

Maybe it’s that “no sidearms thing…”

[@angelawatson7740]

Firstly it is an eighty year old law. If the Police weren't doing their jobs why do we have overflowing prisons

[@andrewgilbertson5356]

@@angelawatson7740 A lot of folk should not be in prison.

[@gleelights9525]

Di.. Rawwwberrrrs... Di.. Rawwwberrttss

[@cccornel5965]

The scenario from "V for Vendetta" is inspired by real life events...

[@dan79600]

The UK has never had free speech. There is no equivalent of the first amendment in UK law. Article 10 of the Humans Rights Act grants the right to freedom of expression, but paragraph 2 places open ended restrictions and conditions on free speech in the interests of national security, public safety, and for the protection of health and morals (whatever that means).

[@radicalcartoons2766]

Another good reason why we need to stop tinkering with the patchwork quilt of exiisting legislation, come out of the Human Rights Act and the ECHR, and rewrite it in our own law, which was what we were promised with Brexit.

[@roadhigher]

@@radicalcartoons2766 The problem is our constitution, in the fact that we have none. Whilst normal, sane countries have codified, comprehensive, single document Constitutions which lay out basic principles and rights that can't be infringed on, our "Constitution" is a collection of random laws from the 1600's up to today, that can be overwritten at will by Parliament with zero checks and balances.

[@briantitchener4829]

It means morals. Principles of right and wrong. Not difficult to understand.

[@iggle6448]

@@roadhigher Welll....when I was at school all pupils across the UK had lessons called British Constitution and it all made good sense. There's been a surreptitious effort to disinform later generations about it. It's not just random laws. It's a coherent collection of common law, statutes, declarations, letters patent, treaties and so on. Some common law dates back 1000yrs, and the Magna Carta in all its versions is c. 1215. Shockingly, Bliar' s gvt set a trend for toppling some important ancient and good laws (like habeas corpus and double jeopardy (in some circs). But I would argue that there are checks and balances.

[@dan79600]

​@@briantitchener4829 Well done, but I wasn't questioning the definition of morals. I was subtly pointing out how the wording of the Act could be open to more than one interpretation.

[@pipergunderson-swaney4539]

A lot of good punk bands should be coming out of this!

[@barbaraseymour3437]

Woohoooo! For the judgment.

[@Kerry-ft2zf]

Very relevant now. Thought police are closing in

[@kate-yk8gv]

Free Julian Assange 💙

[@davidbrandie6410]

Can I find someone who finds me offensive ,offensive ? Why should I not enjoy the prerogative of a final judgement ?

[@paulsoames7980]

The truth is a absolute defense

[@LittleImpaler]

I like this guy that just doesn’t care. As an American this is frightening.