Thursday 12 January 2017

UK fails to gag press over ID of ex-spy at centre of Trump dossier claims

UK fails to gag press over ID of ex-spy at centre of Trump dossier claims | Ars Technica UK: "The D-notice first came into play in 1912, two years before World War I broke out, when Whitehall mandarins decided that an organisation should be created that addressed matters of national interest. Members of the press were included on the advisory panel, and they remain so to do this day.

However, the makeup has changed a little: the likes of Google representatives have sat on the committee, for example. Though, the US ad giant withdrew its voluntary support in light of Edward Snowden's damning disclosures about the NSA.

Historically, publishers and editors have largely responded in kind to the frightfully polite requests from the MoD. Members of the committee have long argued that it doesn't amount to censorship from the British government, instead insisting that they are simply exercising restraint with stories that may, on reflection, damage national security. But Vallance and his predecessors can only gently nudge the press to consider the sensitive material they have in their possession before publishing it." 'via Blog this'