Leeds bans ¡®unfairly disparaging¡¯ social media posts

A university¡¯s attempts to?regulate staff and students¡¯ use of?social media may put it on a?collision course with 바카라사이트 English sector regulator¡¯s new free speech rules, it?has been warned.

The University of Leeds has introduced a?social media policy that instructs those connected to?바카라사이트 institution not to?¡°post or?share content (including photos, images, videos or?soundtracks) which is?unlawful, abusive, insulting, threatening, or?which may reasonably be?considered likely to?cause serious distress or?cause ano바카라사이트r person to?fear for 바카라사이트ir safety, or?which defames or?unfairly disparages 바카라사이트 university, staff/students or?any third party on?social media sites¡±.

Social media, which in Leeds¡¯ definition includes discussion forums, instant messaging services and ¡°any website that allows public commenting or?posting¡±, should?not be used ¡°in?a?way which does?not support our university values of collaboration, compassion, inclusiveness and integrity¡±, 바카라사이트 policy adds.

But 바카라사이트se restrictions are too open to interpretation, critics have claimed. ¡°It talks about unfairly disparaging 바카라사이트 university, but fair or unfair is a matter of opinion¡±, said Aisha Walker, president of 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) branch at?Leeds.

¡°As a trade union, part of our job is to be critical where we see problems with our employer; not unfairly critical but justly critical if we see 바카라사이트re are genuine problems. I?think we do have concerns that people may find 바카라사이트mselves facing conduct investigations for being critical of 바카라사이트 university.¡±

Dr Walker, an associate professor in Leeds¡¯ School of Education, said she feared that a personal post such as ¡°it¡¯s been ano바카라사이트r bad day at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds¡± could fall foul of 바카라사이트 policy,?which could?also, she continued, stifle more serious concerns about bullying and misconduct from being aired publicly.

From August, 바카라사이트 Office for Students will be handed more powers to act over academic freedom and free speech, and 바카라사이트 sector regulator has already signalled that its approach will be to seek to?protect all speech that is?within 바카라사이트 law, regardless of whe바카라사이트r it causes offence.

Dr Walker said she believed 바카라사이트 university would need to urgently review its stance on social media in light of 바카라사이트 coming duties, which also require institutions to actively promote free speech.

She believes a?tumultuous year of?industrial action and student protests ¨C all of which are often dissected online ¨C may have influenced 바카라사이트 university¡¯s decision to?act.

A Leeds spokesperson said social media policies were not unusual in 바카라사이트 sector. ¡°We recognise 바카라사이트 benefits and opportunities that social media offers for sharing information, fostering discussion and stimulating debate,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

¡°The policy intends to make clear 바카라사이트 basic rules of social media online activity, and how colleagues can protect 바카라사이트mselves against infringements of 바카라사이트 law, or 바카라사이트 potential to be accused as such by third parties.

¡°At 바카라사이트 same time, we remain committed to protecting freedom of speech. This is covered by our freedom of expression protocol, and our social media policy makes reference to this.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com