The UK’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation has claimed that free speech absolutism undermines democracy.
Speaking at the Battle of Ideas festival in central London, Jonathan Hall KC told the audience that “I would be, these days, less tolerant of free speech than perhaps many of you, because some of our free speech is being sent to undermine our democracy in ways that lead to terrorism.” He added: “When the rudder comes off and you create a culture of violent language, actual violence, then society begins to decay.”
