The News Media Association says proposed changes to the Official Secrets Act, the Data Protection Act and other unauthorised disclosure offences would facilitate cover-ups Tim Ireland/APPlans to reform the regime protecting official information would severely hinder press freedom and facilitate cover-ups, the News Media Association has said. The proposals from the Law Commission, the independent law reform body, would also make whistleblowers, journalists and media organisations prime targets for state surveillance and criminal prosecution, the NMA said. The association, which represents the national, regional and local press across the UK, has outlined the industry’s wide-ranging objections to the consultative proposals for changes to the Official Secrets Acts, the Data Protection Act and other unauthorised disclosure offences. The NMA said the proposals would entrench official secrecy and were “retrograde and repressive”, adding: “It would be conducive to official cover-up. It would deter, prevent and punish investigation and disclosure of wrongdoing and…

Source: The Times July 28, 2017 00:00 UTC