
Have your say: DfE seeks evidence on SLAPPs and academic freedom
The DfE is researching the impact of SLAPPs and legal threats on academic freedom. UK-based academics are invited to contribute evidence.

The DfE is researching the impact of SLAPPs and legal threats on academic freedom. UK-based academics are invited to contribute evidence.

More than 250 academics have accused Oxford of enabling a “heckler’s veto” after protests led Dr Michael Foran to cancel his lecture series.

CAF's FOI investigation found trigger warnings are widely used across the Russell Group, but many universities could not identify evidence supporting them.

Protests against Dr Michael Foran’s Oxford lecture series raise fresh questions about “soft” academic cancellations and universities’ duty to protect debate.

The University of Leeds has withdrawn a formal warning and restored the emeritus privileges of Professor James Dickins following settlement of Employment Tribunal proceedings arising from a dispute over his pro-Palestinian activism.

New independent research published by the Office for Students suggests that a sizeable minority of students continue to self-censor on controversial topics, while also revealing potentially significant gaps in students’ understanding of the free speech rights they now enjoy under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. Drawing on…

Following tip-offs from supporters, CAF has intervened with a UK university and a leading learned society over harassment frameworks that risk encouraging an unlawfully broad approach to protected speech and professional disagreement.

The OfS will not appeal the Sussex ruling, leaving unresolved questions about free speech regulation, proportionality and the new higher education complaints scheme.

CAF has written to Bridget Phillipson and the OfS warning that new Prevent guidance on “permissive environments” could chill lawful academic speech and expand the use of outsourced “threat assessments” in universities.

Former University of Derby lecturer Russell Cherrington takes his case to the Employment Appeal Tribunal, raising wider questions about academic freedom, classroom speech and equality law in universities.