The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009

Protection of freedom of expression

133.—(1) Except with his or her own free consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of expression.

(2) For the purposes of this section a person’s freedom of expression includes his or her freedom to hold opinions without interference, his or her freedom to receive information and ideas without interference, his or her freedom to disseminate information and ideas without interference (whether the dissemination be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons) and his or her freedom from interference with his or her correspondence or other means of communication.

(3) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to breach this section to the extent that the law in question is necessary in a democratic society—

(a) in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;

(b) for the protection of the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons, or the private lives of persons concerned in legal proceedings or proceedings before any other tribunal or authority, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of the courts, or regulating telephony, posts, telegraphy, electronic communications, broadcasting or public shows; or

(c) to impose restrictions on an officer of the Ascension Public Service for the proper performance of his or her functions.