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The British government is set to introduce a £200 on-the-spot fine for anyone suggesting that free speech is under threat in the UK. The measure is the centrepiece of the Free Speech Protection and Revenue Collection Bill (FSPRAC) set for debate in Parliament Tuesday morning.
“We have a proud tradition of free speech in Great Britain stretching back hundreds of years, and it is just as important today,” said Sir Richard Withers, the Minister for Truth and Responsible Citizenship. “Which is precisely why we cannot allow people to go around questioning it.”
Under the new regulations, select government-approved individuals may be eligible to apply for Enhanced Speech Permits (ESPs), allowing for limited additional expression rights. Permits auto-renew annually, provided the holder has not expressed views falling outside of the Framework for Acceptable Dissent (FAD), in the previous 12 months.
Enforcement will be largely automated. Authorities are expected to detect violations using AI-assisted speech recognition agents embedded in all networked devices, including smart TVs and mobile phones, as well as by monitoring social media activity.
In addition, friends, colleagues and family members are strongly encouraged to assist enforcement efforts by reporting ‘concerning speech’ to the police via a new online portal. Validated reports will earn Good Citizen Credits, which may be redeemed for luxuries, such as the right to work, travel, or open a bank account in the UK.
Sir Richard emphasised that offenders will not receive criminal records. Instead violations will be recorded as Non-Crime Hate-Crime Incidents on the individual’s Digital ID Card. Accumulating three such incidents may result in further penalties, including a short placement in one of the government’s new Re-educational Employment Camps.
“Saying that speech isn’t free in Britain could cause significant harassment, alarm, or distress,” Sir Richard concluded. “Particularly to the Government ministers responsible for ensuring that nobody says that speech isn’t free. It must be stopped.”
