[OgsyedIE]

It's strange that all four examples in the article are people with commonly objectionable right-wing views when the UK has sent arresting officers to people on the basis of online comments across the political spectrum in the last couple years. It isn't merely a partisan issue where a group that are easily written off as racists receive heavy-handed justice, the police have intermittently targeted every view away from the center in their homes, even Quakers, disability advocates and anti-hunting activists.

Does the editorial team of the Economist want to imply that only right-leaning members of the British public are experiencing this?

[adamors]

It’s a wierdly written article, for one I wouldn’t take at face value anything coming from the current US admin, secondly, it keeps using British and European interchangebly, when the only examples are from the UK. It definitely tries to push a narrative.

[isaacremuant]

No. But way to try and sidetrack it.

They also used it against people opposing draconian covid policies or protesting for Assange and neither of those are partisan views, no matter how much some might want to pretend they are.

[pcrh]

Perhaps it's because the most powerful voices criticizing restrictions on speech in the UK are coming from the "right", e.g. Musk, Farage, Robinson, etc.

These claim that their views would be more widely accepted if it were not for restrictions on freedom of speech.

[YetAnotherNick]

The article mentions:

> That has allowed the police to take a draconian approach to pro-Gaza protests

Generally pro-Gaza is more associated with left wing.

[rawling]

> even Quakers

Arrests made _at a Quaker meeting house_, not _of Quakers_ (or at least not for _being_ Quakers).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3x5j6g30ro

> The Metropolitan Police said six people had been arrested on Thursday evening at the Westminster Meeting House on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.

> The force said the arrests had come amid concerns about plans to "shut down" London next month using tactics such as road blocks.

I would imagine your example of "anti-hunting activists" would likely also be people planning to do something to break the law - not purely for online comments.

[landl0rd]

Examples like the raid on the quaker meeting are real and contemptible. I'm guessing it's because it's been weaponized against right-wingers for longer not because it's only been used against them. I hope people on the left, palestinian activists, etc. will help push back against these ridiculous tyrannical laws.