Oxford social media policy violates our free speech, say dons
Academics fear ‘overreaching’ rules on being respectful will harm careers
OXFORD dons are revolting against the university’s social media and harassment policies, saying academics should be able to speak without “respect” for others online.
A group of professors have claimed that Oxford’s policies are “overreaching”, prohibit “speech that is lawful” and are therefore in breach of the university’s legal duty to protect freedom of speech.
Currently, Oxford professors are expected to adhere to the university’s harassment policy and its guidance on social media use, which includes requiring “all members of the university community… to treat each other with respect, courtesy and consideration in communication with one another”.
The dons said the policies “frustrate academic freedom and harm academic careers”, in a question tabled to Oxford’s Congregation, the policy-making body made up of academics, librarians and senior administrative staff.
Jeff Mcmahan, a professor of moral philosophy and one of the signatories, said: “I signed the document because I have known of a number of incidents in which somebody who has an academic position says something a little bit intemperate on Twitter, there’s a huge outcry about it and the person loses his or her job. I think this is dreadful.”
The dons called for the changes to the university’s policies in a proposal made by Dr Michael Biggs, professor of sociology, and Dr Roger Teichmann, tutor and fellow in philosophy. The document was also signed by seven other academics.
The academics’ intervention comes after Oxford postdoctoral student Abhijit Sarkar was subjected to threats of rape and murder online after being accused of “Hinduphobia” when he posted on Instagram about Rashmi Samant, the first female Indian student to lead the Oxford University Students’ Union, who has since resigned.
Dr Sarkar linked Ms Samant and her family to farright Hindu nationalism, and his post was reported to the police, although no further action was taken.
Dr Teichmann said Dr Sarkar’s case “was the trigger” for the question, adding that Oxford’s harassment policies “allow vexatious and unjust harassment, ironically, of academics who are simply trying to express their opinions or their views in a civilised way”.
Karolien Celie, legal officer at the Free Speech Union, said the union is backing the academics’ question, adding: “We believe any policy that can be used to suppress legitimate academic expression, particularly on matters of public concern, has no place in the university.”
The question also states that a part of Oxford’s guidelines that says members of staff should “obtain written permission from the university before commencing online public campaigns” should be removed.
A university statement said: “The university is both allowed and obliged to take action in response to concerns about the treatment of a member of the university community by a fellow member of the same community.”