UK anti-protest laws and surveillance technology need a rethink: Bond releases annual review on UK civic space

Today, Thursday 22 May, Bond, the UK network for civil society organisations working in international development, has released its UK civic space review for 24-25, detailing the key trends threatening civil society’s core functions.

From growing concerns over protest rights, to the rollout of new technologies such as facial recognition and artificial intelligence (AI), and fresh stigmatisation of campaigners and communities who challenge government reforms, little has been done to improve UK civic space over the past year.

Key themes and trends include:

Protest rights

Trend 1: Climate and environmental protesters handed longer sentences and stricter penalties

A global study released in 2024 found that UK police are arresting environmental and climate protesters at three times the average global rate, and that climate protesters are receiving disproportionate sentences.

Over the past year there have been several cases where climate protesters have been arrested and given extraordinary long sentences, including in March 2025 at a Quaker meeting, and in July 2024 where four climate protesters each received a four-year sentence and one received five years for participating in a video call in which they planned to block the M25 during a protest – a worrying sign of the increasing criminalisation of protest.

Trend 2: Policing of pro-Palestine demonstrations

There have been several high-profile incidents at Pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have been subject to strict restrictions and policing. Reports from eyewitnesses and legal observers indicate the threshold for arrest at these marches is alarmingly low. Sections of the media and politicians have contributed to the attack on pro-Palestine demonstrations by labelling them as “hate marches”.

Academics and MPs have raised concerns about the policing of these protests, including 40 legal academics and 50 MPs who sent open letters to the Home Secretary demanding an investigation into the policing of the protest on 11 January 2025 and a review of public order legislation. A report published in February 2025 shows that universities are cracking down on pro-Palestine demonstrations by launching disciplinary investigations on students and staff in connection to their involvement with pro-Palestine activism.

Technology

Trend 3: Facial recognition and surveillance technology are becoming more widespread

As surveillance technology use has grown, so has awareness and understanding of its role in curtailing civic space. In the past year, UK police have expanded the use of facial recognition, including at peaceful gatherings. This technology risks violating privacy rights and deters campaigners from participating in demonstrations. Facial recognition technology can be deeply flawed and has been found to disproportionately misidentify people of colour, increasing the risk of wrongful arrest. There is currently no overarching legislation governing the use of facial recognition technology, so safeguards are ad hoc and inconsistently applied.

Trend 4: Increased understanding of the possible impacts of artificial intelligence

AI has the potential to both protect and restrict civic space and civil society is calling for better global and national regulation. Concerns include its potential to exacerbate discrimination (particularly against marginalised groups and minorities) and aid the spread of misinformation or disinformation, for example, AI-powered facial recognition, scans crowds (including protesters) and matches faces against police watchlists.

However, there are also positive uses, such as its ability to speed and scale-up fact checking to help counter disinformation. One example includes Full Fact AI, which helps fact-checkers worldwide to save time, money and effort by identifying the most important disinformation to address.

Yet, there is limited transparency around the design, development, testing and use of AI, which are often conducted without the meaningful participation of relevant stakeholders, including human rights experts and civil society representatives.

Trend 5: First attempts at regulating artificial intelligence prioritise growth and security over human rights

While many governments recognise the need for regulation, and the first international AI agreements have been signed, the UK appears to be prioritising growth and security over human rights protections. In 2024, governments signed the first international agreements seeking to regulate AI: the UK signed the Council of Europe’s AI Convention, and the EU passed the AI Act. While both these measures have many positive requirements, such as stipulating that AI deployers (including states) carry out risk and impact assessments in relation to human rights, they both include blanket exemptions for national security and national defence, as well as sweeping loopholes for law enforcement.

General Election 2024

Trend 6: Civil society is less outspoken during general elections

The UK General Election reinforced longer-term trends that both civil society and the public are becoming less engaged in elections, in part due to restrictions imposed by voter ID in 2022 and the expansion of non-party campaigning rules in 2014.

Civil society has a vital role to play during general elections. Charities can campaign on issues aligned with their purpose, provided they remain independent of political parties and candidates. Their participation brings diverse voices to public debate, which is beneficial for a healthy, democratic environment. However, since non-party campaigning rules expanded in 2014, many civil society organisations have become more cautious, with complex and sometimes conflicting regulations creating confusion and fear of overstepping.

Trend 7: A growing call for increased integrity of elections

Despite the Labour government winning by a significant majority, voter turnout in the 2024 general election was the lowest since 2001, and was 7.6% lower than the 2019 election. A large concern among civil society organisations is that a low turnout during an election can undermine its legitimacy. Only 52% of eligible voters participated in choosing a new government in 2024. While some individuals chose not to vote, others were prevented from taking part due to strict regulations surrounding voter ID requirements. These requirements have deterred and prevented some legitimate voters from voting.

Government and civil society

Trend 8: A change in tone towards some in civil society, but few policy changes

The new government has signalled a more collaborative tone with civil society, but concrete action to reverse policies restricting civic space remains limited. The Civil Society Covenant, aimed at resetting government and civil society relations, is due later in 2025. Yet, despite promises of stronger engagement and a shift in tone for charity campaigning, the government is yet to take action to address repressive laws from previous governments. Despite the government making a commitment to collaboration and partnership under the Civil Society Covenant Framework, issues around a lack of consultation persist, with civil society organisations frequently excluded from key decision-making processes. For example, the recent international UK aid cuts, announced without prior consultation with civil society.

Trend 9: Stigmatisation of campaigners and communities who challenge government reforms

Government ministers have continued to stigmatise campaigners and civil society who challenge their agenda. The Prime Minister has referred to those opposing his plans for carbon capture usage technology as “net zero extremists”, he labelled those challenging his infrastructure projects as “nimbys” and “blockers”, describing them as “self-righteous virtue signalling” protestors, and vowed to take protestors on for slowing down the development process. The language the Prime Minister uses raises questions about whether the government truly supports campaigning as a vital part of democracy. It also undermines the legitimacy of those raising their concerns and their right to do so.

The Health Secretary has also said he would like to break the culture of the way charities lobby the government, and specifically referred to the charity Royal Osteoporosis Society as a “stakeholder” rather than a partner.

Speaking about the review, Rowan Popplewell, Policy Manager on civic space at Bond, said:

Our report highlights that little has been done to reverse the draconian restrictions on protest rights introduced by the previous government, which have led to peaceful protesters receiving lengthy prison sentences. We are also seeing fresh attacks on campaigners, including plans to ban face coverings at protests and the stigmatisation of communities opposing government planning reforms.

We need a government that is not only open to engaging with civil society, but also takes steps to ensure that people are able to protest and speak out on the issues they care about.

Plans to reset the relationship with civil society, including through introducing a new Covenant agreement, are welcome, but they risk falling flat unless the government also protects the right to protest and campaign.

ENDS.

Notes for editors

Read Bond’s review on UK civic space.
This review maps out the key trends of restrictions affecting civil society in the UK, covering the period from 2024 to 2025.
In May 2024, the High Court ruled that the government had acted unlawfully when it passed an anti-protest measure in 2023 which significantly lowered the threshold for serious disruption. This measure, introduced through secondary legislation, was successfully challenged in court by human rights organisation Liberty. The previous government lodged an appeal against the ruling. Following a pause, the new Labour government chose to pursue the appeal, Liberty was successful again following the appeal hearing on 2 May. Liberty challenged law change which lowered threshold on when protests can have conditions placed on them to anything that caused ‘more than minor’ disruption.
The UK was recently downgraded in the CIVICUS global ranking on the state of civil society and civic freedoms. Read Bond’s reaction here.
Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 350 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
For further information or interviews please contact Jess Salter at [email protected] or call 07392972411.