UK considers censoring publication of British research in name of security
The UK Parliament is currently debating an extension of its export control bill that would allow the government to censor the publication of British research. The changes aim to prevent scientific knowledge transfer that might threaten national security. The bill would give the government the power to stretch the export control from physical goods to 'intangibles' such as software, scientific publications or even lecture material given to foreign students. The restrictions would apply to many core curriculum subjects in science, medicine and technology. Scientists fear that the bill could challenge Britain's current position in the international scientific community. They argue that foreign scientists and students would be discouraged from coming to Britain by the huge bureaucratic burdens that the new legislation would impose on them. Professor Anderson from the University of Cambridge warned that 'there could be a severe impact on collaborative research across national boundaries, including the EU funded research which now accounts for a large proportion of our science base.' The debate comes at a time when, ironically, the USA is abandoning many of its restrictive export controls on intangibles.
Kraje
United Kingdom