Join 40,000+ people who speak freely.
The Free Speech Union has fought over 5,000 cases for people who found themselves in trouble for speaking their mind. Join 40,000+ members who know expert support is there when they need it.
The Free Speech Union has fought over 5,000 cases for people who found themselves in trouble for speaking their mind. Join 40,000+ members who know expert support is there when they need it.
Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student, was stabbed with a 21cm ceremonial knife on a night out in Southampton. When police arrived, they handcuffed and arrested him for an alleged racial slur rather than trying to save his life. The Free Speech Union has long warned that the police need to get their priorities straight, and there are serious questions Hampshire Police must answer.
South Wales Police has told officers to log anti-Islam conversations that stray beyond what it deems "legitimate" — a subjective threshold that hands individual officers the power to determine acceptable speech and could see lawful expression recorded as an anti-social behaviour incident, potentially appearing in DBS checks. The Free Speech Union has written to the force demanding it withdraw the guidance, warning of judicial review if it refuses.
British citizens are flocking to freedom.gov, a "censorship circumvention project" set up by the Trump administration's State Department, to bypass the restrictive online safety laws imposed by the UK's Online Safety Act and the EU's Digital Services Act. Sarah Rogers, US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, says Brits are visiting the site more than any other nationality — because they are living under a government "hostile to freedom of speech".
Labour MPs write to the Equality and Human Rights Commission to accuse Reform UK of Islamophobia. The Free Speech Union has long warned that the Government's official definition of Islamophobia would be weaponised to silence legitimate criticism of Islam.
Max Thompson surveys the six bills in the King's Speech most likely to threaten free speech and civil liberties in the parliamentary session ahead.
Avon and Somerset Police drop investigation into Christian street preacher who is backed by the White House. Dia Moodley describes it as a "win for free speech", but he should never have been arrested in the first place.
A strong community dedicated to protecting free expression
If you want to speak up about an issue that matters to you, you should be free to do so without fear of being penalised. We have helped over 5,000 people who’ve found themselves in trouble merely for expressing a controversial opinion or for exercising their right to lawful free speech, whether at college or university, in the workplace or on social media.
If you’re looking for information and guidance, or in need of immediate help, our team of experts are here to provide assistance, resources and support.
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Free speech is a fundamental human right and the most important one of all because without it we wouldn’t be able to defend the others. It’s the lifeblood of democracy and a bulwark against tyranny.
Academic freedom is the lifeblood of universities. By engaging in open discussion, students and academics are able to develop different ideas and advance the frontiers of knowledge.
Freedom of expression extends to nonverbal and creative forms of communication — art, music, film, performance and symbols — that convey ideas beyond spoken or written words.
Freedom of the press is essential for the proper functioning of democracy. Without journalists holding the powerful to account citizens cannot make informed decisions at the ballot box.
Please consider supporting the Free Speech Union. Your donation helps fund our legal work, campaigning and member support so we can continue defending free expression across Britain. Any contribution—large or small—makes a real difference.
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