The document which proves the UK government is censoring on-line criticism

(not satire – it’s the UK today!)

After a FOI request, a government official has released a copy of the official complaint it made to Twitter which resulted in closing down a parody account on Twitter of the Department for Work and Pensions called @UKJCP.

In the remarkable document, an official at the Department (Jon Woodcock, Brand Manager at Department for Work and Pensions) openly gives the reason for wanting the account closed down as “deliberate and malicious intent to devalue and criticise the work of Jobcentre Plus ….. UK government, elected politicians and the heads of large private sector organisations”.

Here’s the relevant section of the document, in which Mr Woodcock explains why the government wants the Twitter account closed down: 

The document can be seen in full here (pdf).

Apart from the obvious concern that UK government officials are openly trying to close down criticism of government, politicians and business leaders – I’m also pretty shocked that Twitter agreed to the request.

So much for freedom of speech.

PS – anyone else surprised the DWP has a ‘brand manager’?

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