Intelligence committee seeks to censorship of UK media - report
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Nov 10, IRNA
UK-Censorship
The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), which reports direct to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is seeking legal powers to censor the British media, it was reported Monday.
Under the existing voluntary code of conduct, known as the DA- Notice system, the Government can request that the media does not report a story.
But according to the Independent newspaper, the committee, now chaired by former Middle East Minister Kim Howells, is particularly worried about leaks and wants censorship rules to be legally enforced.
Unlike other parliamentary committees, the ISC does not report to parliament in its main task of overseeing MI5 security agency, MI6 intelligence and GCHQ monitoring agency.
It was said to be pressing ministers to introduce legislation that would prevent news outlets from reporting stories deemed by the government to be against the interests of national security.
The daily said in addition, it was also seeking to censor reporting of police operations that are deemed to have implications for national security.
"The ISC is to recommend in its next report, out at the end of the year, that a commission be set up to look into its plans," senior government sources were quoted saying.
News of the proposals comes after it was revealed last week that there had been a huge increase in the number of D-notices issued against the British press and broadcasters in the last two years to prevent the reporting of sensitive information.
Seven D-notice letters of advice were sent to all editor by the Defence Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee (DPBAC) in 2007 and a further five so far this year, compared with just two each in the previous three years.
2220**345**1416
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
