The letter said an official document published in February 2023 called for “due diligence checks on any individual or external organisation [that cross-government networks] are working with to ensure they are not engaged in political or campaigning activities”, adding that “overt criticism of government could compromise our impartiality as civil servants”.
Freedom-of-information requests revealed that versions of the “due diligence” policy were drawn up by departments including the Treasury, Ministry of Justice, Department of Health and Social Care, Ministry of Defence, Department for Transport, and Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Lawyers acting for Kaszeta and education consultant Ruth Swailes, who says she was censored at a Department for Education (DfE) -linked event, have written to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) calling for a probe into the checks and alleging that they were unlawful under data protection laws.
‘Authoritarian and heavy-handed’: call for investigation into vetting of experts by UK civil servants Speakers banned after criticising government in social media posts.
Two experts, who discovered that civil servants had combed through years of social media posts to judge them “unsuitable” to address conferences, believe the practice was covert and unlawful.
