Protection of freedom of expression
12.—(1) Except with his or her consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of expression, and for the purposes of this section the said freedom includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive and impart (to the public generally or to any person or class of persons) ideas and information without interference, and freedom from interference with his or her correspondence or other means of communication.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision—
(a)that is reasonably required—
(i)in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or
(ii)for the purpose of protecting the rights, reputations and freedoms of other persons or the private lives of persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of the courts, regulating telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless broadcasting, television or other means of communication or regulating public exhibitions or public entertainments; or
(b)that imposes restrictions upon public officers or teachers that are reasonably required for the purpose of ensuring the proper performance of their functions,
except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under its authority is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) in so far as it relates to public officers, “law” in that subsection includes directions in writing regarding the conduct of public officers generally or any class of public officer issued by the Government.