A): if you went past RTFA and actually went to look for yourself, the law of the UK allows for detention at customs for up to this period of time without any real need for justification beyond not being comfortable with the traveller or thinking there may be an issue.

B): You don’t have to be convicted of something to be a known smuggler – or to have a direct relationship with someone who has apparently transported state secrets before. This is Glenn’s boyfriend, and would be no different from detaining the wife or girlfriend of a admitted narco trafficker to assure that she wasn’t carrying anything illegal.

C): See B above. Duh, of course they are two different people, but they are a couple and no, gay men don’t get a free pass because their relationship is non-traditional. Again, see B above.

D): it’s not a spam filter, it’s an idea filter. I don’t spam. I never have posted a link on Techdirt (outside of those to answer inane “link needed” troll posts). It’s the Techdirt staff deciding they didn’t want to have opposing opinions on their site that were reasonable and detailed. Every post (including this one) will go into moderation before being posted. That is a simple way to censor my posts or to make my comments less relevant. They have been quicker today to approve posts, but in the past couple of months it has taken days for posts to appear, which means the story is already 3 or 4 pages back and no longer gets any responses.

The more I point out that this is an issue, the faster the posts appear. You can puzzle that one out for me, the Techdirt staff has been very closed mouthed about their attempts to muzzle dissenting voices.

“A): This was not within the limits of the law. The law is explicit in its purpose and this doesn’t fit which you would know if you RTFA.”

The Article is based on a tweet and still somehow misses a line. Section (1)(a) that Mike ignored includes references to sections 11, 12, 15 to 18, 54 and 56 to 63, of the act. Did anyone read them?
They run to nearly 3000 words and cover an awful lot.

Here…..
11
Membership.
(1)
A person commits an offence if he belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation.
(2)
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove?
(a)
that the organisation was not proscribed on the last (or only) occasion on which he became a member or began to profess to be a member, and
(b)
that he has not taken part in the activities of the organisation at any time while it was proscribed.
(3)
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable?
(a)
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, to a fine or to both, or
(b)
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.
(4)
In subsection (2) ?proscribed? means proscribed for the purposes of any of the following?
(a)
this Act;
(b)
the M1Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996;
(c)
the M2Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991;
(d)
the M3Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989;
(e)
the M4Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984;
(f)
the M5Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978;
(g)
the M6Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976;
(h)
the M7Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974;
(i)
the M8Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973.

12
Support.
(1)
A person commits an offence if?
(a)
he invites support for a proscribed organisation, and
(b)
the support is not, or is not restricted to, the provision of money or other property (within the meaning of section 15).
(2)
A person commits an offence if he arranges, manages or assists in arranging or managing a meeting which he knows is?
(a)
to support a proscribed organisation,
(b)
to further the activities of a proscribed organisation, or
(c)
to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation.
(3)
A person commits an offence if he addresses a meeting and the purpose of his address is to encourage support for a proscribed organisation or to further its activities.
(4)
Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (2)(c) in respect of a private meeting it is a defence for him to prove that he had no reasonable cause to believe that the address mentioned in subsection (2)(c) would support a proscribed organisation or further its activities.
(5)
In subsections (2) to (4)?
(a)
?meeting? means a meeting of three or more persons, whether or not the public are admitted, and
(b)
a meeting is private if the public are not admitted.
(6)
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable?
(a)
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, to a fine or to both, or
(b)
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.

15
Fund-raising.
(1)
A person commits an offence if he?
(a)
invites another to provide money or other property, and
(b)
intends that it should be used, or has reasonable cause to suspect that it may be used, for the purposes of terrorism.
(2)
A person commits an offence if he?
(a)
receives money or other property, and
(b)
intends that it should be used, or has reasonable cause to suspect that it may be used, for the purposes of terrorism.
(3)
A person commits an offence if he?
(a)
provides money or other property, and
(b)
knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that it will or may be used for the purposes of terrorism.
(4)
In this section a reference to the provision of money or other property is a reference to its being given, lent or otherwise made available, whether or not for consideration.

16
Use and possession.
(1)
A person commits an offence if he uses money or other property for the purposes of terrorism.
(2)
A person commits an offence if he?
(a)
possesses money or other property, and
(b)
intends that it should be used, or has reasonable cause to suspect that it may be used, for the purposes of terrorism.

17
Funding arrangements.
A person commits an offence if?
(a)
he enters into or becomes concerned in an arrangement as a result of which money or other property is made available or is to be made available to another, and
(b)
he knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that it will or may be used for the purposes of terrorism.

18
Money laundering.
(1)
A person commits an offence if he enters into or becomes concerned in an arrangement which facilitates the retention or control by or on behalf of another person of terrorist property?
(a)
by concealment,
(b)
by removal from the jurisdiction,
(c)
by transfer to nominees, or
(d)
in any other way.
(2)
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that he did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the arrangement related to terrorist property

54
Weapons training.
(1)
A person commits an offence if he provides instruction or training in the making or use of?
(a)
firearms,
[F1(aa)
radioactive material or weapons designed or adapted for the discharge of any radioactive material,]
(b)
explosives, or
(c)
chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
(2)
A person commits an offence if he receives instruction or training in the making or use of?
(a)
firearms,
[F1(aa)
radioactive material or weapons designed or adapted for the discharge of any radioactive material,]
(b)
explosives, or
(c)
chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
(3)
A person commits an offence if he invites another to receive instruction or training and the receipt?
(a)
would constitute an offence under subsection (2), or
(b)
would constitute an offence under subsection (2) but for the fact that it is to take place outside the United Kingdom.
(4)
For the purpose of subsections (1) and (3)?
(a)
a reference to the provision of instruction includes a reference to making it available either generally or to one or more specific persons, and
(b)
an invitation to receive instruction or training may be either general or addressed to one or more specific persons.
(5)
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section in relation to instruction or training to prove that his action or involvement was wholly for a purpose other than assisting, preparing for or participating in terrorism.
(6)
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable?
(a)
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, to a fine or to both, or
(b)
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.

56
Directing terrorist organisation.
(1)
A person commits an offence if he directs, at any level, the activities of an organisation which is concerned in the commission of acts of terrorism.
(2)
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.

57
Possession for terrorist purposes.
(1)
A person commits an offence if he possesses an article in circumstances which give rise to a reasonable suspicion that his possession is for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.
(2)
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that his possession of the article was not for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.
(3)
In proceedings for an offence under this section, if it is proved that an article?
(a)
was on any premises at the same time as the accused, or
(b)
was on premises of which the accused was the occupier or which he habitually used otherwise than as a member of the public,
the court may assume that the accused possessed the article, unless he proves that he did not know of its presence on the premises or that he had no control over it.
(4)
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable?
(a)
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F115 years]F1 , to a fine or to both, or
(b)
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.

58
Collection of information.
(1)
A person commits an offence if?
(a)
he collects or makes a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or
(b)
he possesses a document or record containing information of that kind.
(2)
In this section ?record? includes a photographic or electronic record.
(3)
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had a reasonable excuse for his action or possession.
(4)
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable?
(a)
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, to a fine or to both, or
(b)
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.

[F158A
Eliciting, publishing or communicating information about members of armed forces etc
(1)
A person commits an offence who?
(a)
elicits or attempts to elicit information about an individual who is or has been?
(i)
a member of Her Majesty’s forces,
(ii)
a member of any of the intelligence services, or
(iii)
a constable,
which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or
(b)
publishes or communicates any such information.
(2)
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for their action.
(3)
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable?
(a)
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to a fine, or to both;
(b)
on summary conviction?
(i)
in England and Wales or Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;
(ii)
in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.
(4)
In this section ?the intelligence services? means the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service and GCHQ (within the meaning of section 3 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994 (c. 13)).
(5)
Schedule 8A to this Act contains supplementary provisions relating to the offence under this section.]

59
England and Wales.
(1)
A person commits an offence if?
(a)
he incites another person to commit an act of terrorism wholly or partly outside the United Kingdom, and
(b)
the act would, if committed in England and Wales, constitute one of the offences listed in subsection (2).
(2)
Those offences are?
(a)
murder,
(b)
an offence under section 18 of the Offences against the M1Person Act 1861 (wounding with intent),
(c)
an offence under section 23 or 24 of that Act (poison),
(d)
an offence under section 28 or 29 of that Act (explosions), and
(e)
an offence under section 1(2) of the M2Criminal Damage Act 1971 (endangering life by damaging property).
(3)
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable to any penalty to which he would be liable on conviction of the offence listed in subsection (2) which corresponds to the act which he incites.
(4)
For the purposes of subsection (1) it is immaterial whether or not the person incited is in the United Kingdom at the time of the incitement.
(5)
Nothing in this section imposes criminal liability on any person acting on behalf of, or holding office under, the Crown.

60
Northern Ireland.
(1)
A person commits an offence if?
(a)
he incites another person to commit an act of terrorism wholly or partly outside the United Kingdom, and
(b)
the act would, if committed in Northern Ireland, constitute one of the offences listed in subsection (2).
(2)
Those offences are?
(a)
murder,
(b)
an offence under section 18 of the Offences against the M1Person Act 1861 (wounding with intent),
(c)
an offence under section 23 or 24 of that Act (poison),
(d)
an offence under section 28 or 29 of that Act (explosions), and
(e)
an offence under Article 3(2) of the M2Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (endangering life by damaging property).
(3)
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable to any penalty to which he would be liable on conviction of the offence listed in subsection (2) which corresponds to the act which he incites.
(4)
For the purposes of subsection (1) it is immaterial whether or not the person incited is in the United Kingdom at the time of the incitement.
(5)
Nothing in this section imposes criminal liability on any person acting on behalf of, or holding office under, the Crown

61
Scotland.
(1)
A person commits an offence if?
(a)
he incites another person to commit an act of terrorism wholly or partly outside the United Kingdom, and
(b)
the act would, if committed in Scotland, constitute one of the offences listed in subsection (2).
(2)
Those offences are?
(a)
murder,
(b)
assault to severe injury, and
(c)
reckless conduct which causes actual injury.
(3)
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable to any penalty to which he would be liable on conviction of the offence listed in subsection (2) which corresponds to the act which he incites.
(4)
For the purposes of subsection (1) it is immaterial whether or not the person incited is in the United Kingdom at the time of the incitement.
(5)
Nothing in this section imposes criminal liability on any person acting on behalf of, or holding office under, the Crown.

62
Terrorist bombing: jurisdiction.
(1)
If?
(a)
a person does anything outside the United Kingdom as an act of terrorism or for the purposes of terrorism, and
(b)
his action would have constituted the commission of one of the offences listed in subsection (2) if it had been done in the United Kingdom,
he shall be guilty of the offence.
(2)
The offences referred to in subsection (1)(b) are?
(a)
an offence under section 2, 3 or 5 of the M1Explosive Substances Act 1883 (causing explosions, &c.),
(b)
an offence under section 1 of the M2Biological Weapons Act 1974 (biological weapons), and
(c)
an offence under section 2 of the M3Chemical Weapons Act 1996 (chemical weapons).

63
Terrorist finance: jurisdiction.
(1)
If?
(a)
a person does anything outside the United Kingdom, and
(b)
his action would have constituted the commission of an offence under any of sections 15 to 18 if it had been done in the United Kingdom,
he shall be guilty of the offence.
(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), section 18(1)(b) shall be read as if for ?the jurisdiction? there were substituted ? a jurisdiction ?.

A non-journalist carrying (possibly) encrypted drives over the border isn’t really outside the law is it?