In Britain, an Ominous Move to Conflate Journalism With Terrorism

[Jesus Malverde]

A parliamentarian suggests that The Guardian has violated a terrorism law, even as the British government defends detaining David Miranda using the same statute.

Conservative parliamentarian Liam Fox, Britain's former defense secretary, is urging his country's top prosecutor to investigate whether The Guardian and its journalists violated The Terrorism Act 2000 while handling Edward Snowden's leaks.

He is focused on the newspaper's decision to partner with foreign publications like The New York Times. "There have been further accusations that The Guardian passed the names of GCHQ agents to foreign journalists and bloggers. Would such activities, if true, constitute an offense under the Terrorism Act 2000 or other related legislation?” Fox asked in a letter to the director of public prosecutions, adding a question about how a prosecution might be initiated.

These actions are ominous.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/11/in-britain-an-ominous-move-to-conflate-journalism-with-terrorism/281331/