According to new laws in the U.K. as part of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act, anyone who views "terrorist propaganda" could end up with a 15 year jail term. This has far-reaching human rights implications. The criminalization of viewing "information useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism" could mean just about anything.

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A UN inspector has likened it to "thought crime", which is pretty accurate. The original proposal was for watching 'terror propaganda' "on three or more different occasions", but now it's just once. Some people are exempt though: journalists, academic researchers or people who had "no reason to believe" they were accessing terrorist propaganda are exempt. anyone else though, you're not allowed to view anything that's deemed "terror propaganda".

The Joint Committee on Human Rights said it's "breach of the right to receive information and risks criminalising legitimate research and curiosity". Officials say this law will be used for the good though, in cases "where other offences cannot be proven, or to prevent radicalisation." But can we take them at their word? I don't think so. There are other "exemptions including humanitarian work.. and funerals"

Security Minister Ben Wallace said:

"We are all struggling in the West to deal with the emerging threat of foreign fighters as failed state safe areas are becoming the routine. Members on both sides of the House rightly get angry when foreign fighters come back and we cannot prosecute them, because gathering evidence of deeper and more complex offences is very challenging."

Home secretary Sajid Javid said:

"Keeping people safe is my number one job and this important piece of legislation will help do that. The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act gives the police the powers they need to disrupt plots and punish those who seek to do us harm."

I can see the reason for wanting to get at terrorists any way they can if they can't prove involvement. But these definitions are too loose. Anyone who is a dissenter could be targeted by Big Brother.

Here's a scenario:

"What's that? You don't like government? You're against government? You're an 'anarchist'? Hmmm... let's see what you've been watching. Oh, see that there, that's 'terrorist propaganda'! You're going to jail bitch! Winning!"

That's the dangerous road I see this heading towards. At first it starts with real terrorists. But then comes the gradualism and incrementalism of altering the agenda for the end-game for controlling dissent and free thought.

As Corey Stoughton, advocacy director at Liberty, said:

Despite a series of amendments brought about by concerted campaigning, this act remains a grave threat to our human rights. It unnecessarily adds to the raft of existing counterterror legislation, introducing harsh sentences for ill-defined offences related to travelling overseas and browsing the internet. It risks stifling dissent and making thought crime a reality.

This is dangerous legislation to pass. It's a weak tool to charge actual terrorists, and actually promotes the totalitarian authority of the state to control society further. 1984 was a blueprint, and we're living it.

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Thank you for your time and attention. Peace.

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