The Defence and Security Media Advisory (DSMA) Committee is a British government liaison advisory body established in 2015 which oversees a voluntary code which operates between the government departments which have responsibility for national security and the media.[1] It has no formal censorship powers, but the notices it issues, typically regarding information sensitive to national defence and still informally known as "D-notices", are widely followed by the British media.
The committee and its predecessors have been known by many different names.
Admiralty, War Office and Press Committee, 1912–1919. An Assistant Secretary of the War Office and Mr. Robbins, the representative of the Press Association, were joint Secretaries. Letters, or telegrams, were sent to editors when agreed. They came to be known as "Parkers" after Mr. Parke who was then the representative of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association on the committee. This evolved into the D-Notice system.[2]
Admiralty, War Office, Air Ministry and Press Committee, 1919–1939.
Admiralty, War Office, Air Ministry and Press Committee, 1945–1967. Admiral George Thompson, who had been the Chief Press Censor during the war, became the Secretary of the committee in 1945.
Services, Press and Broadcasting Committee c.1967–1993. Vice Admiral Sir Norman Denning was appointed Secretary in 1967.
Defence, Press and Broadcasting Committee, 1993–2015.
The Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee issued DA-Notices from 1993 to 2015. The secretary was a former two-star military officer employed from a Ministry of Defence budget and is housed by them (although technically independent) and the committee is made up of senior civil servants and representatives of national media organisations.
Membershipedit
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: The Guardian now also sits on the Committee. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2021)
The committee consisted of five government representatives and 16 media representatives. The five government positions on the committee were all ex officio – the chairman being the current Permanent Under Secretary of the Ministry of Defence. The 2nd Permanent Under Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet OfficePermanent Secretary, the Permanent Under Secretary of the Home Office and the Deputy Under Secretary from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were the other officers. The Vice Chairman was chosen by the press members from among their number.
The media representatives were nominated by the following organisations:[4]
On 25 November 2010, the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee sent DA-Notices to UK newspapers[6] regarding an expected major publication by WikiLeaks of a "huge cache" of United States (US) diplomatic cables.[6]Index on Censorship presented this as part of "a harm minimisation strategy the US government has embarked on [with] an impressive briefing campaign, reaching out to allies across the world."[6]
Overseas influenceedit
Although Google was at one time a member, the DSMA committee is as of 2024[update] largely ignored by the global "gatekeeper" technology companies.[5]Politico has reported that the committee has internally floated the idea of using OFCOM and the provisions of the Online Safety Act to influence these companies.[5]
Referencesedit
^"Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
^. Defence and Security Media Advisory Notice System. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
^"Services, Press and Broadcasting Committee and predecessors: Unregistered Papers". National Archives. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
^. The DA-Notice System. 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
^ abc"US tech giants refuse to work with Britain's top secret military censorship board". POLITICO. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
^ abcButselaar, Emily (26 November 2010). "Wikileaks: UK issues DA-Notice as US briefs allies on fresh leak". Index on Censorship. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
Further readingedit
Nicholas Wilkinson: Secrecy and the Media, The Official History of the United Kingdom's D-Notice System, Routledge, Chapman & Hall, London, 2009. ISBN9781138873506
External linksedit
Official web site of DA-Notices and of the committee
January 01, 1970
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The Defence and Security Media Advisory DSMA Committee is a British government liaison advisory body established in 2015 which oversees a voluntary code which operates between the government departments which have responsibility for national security and the media 1 It has no formal censorship powers but the notices it issues typically regarding information sensitive to national defence and still informally known as D notices are widely followed by the British media Contents 1 History 2 Membership 3 Actions 4 Overseas influence 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistory editThe committee and its predecessors have been known by many different names Admiralty War Office and Press Committee 1912 1919 An Assistant Secretary of the War Office and Mr Robbins the representative of the Press Association were joint Secretaries Letters or telegrams were sent to editors when agreed They came to be known as Parkers after Mr Parke who was then the representative of the Newspaper Proprietors Association on the committee This evolved into the D Notice system 2 Admiralty War Office Air Ministry and Press Committee 1919 1939 Admiralty War Office Air Ministry and Press Committee 1945 1967 Admiral George Thompson who had been the Chief Press Censor during the war became the Secretary of the committee in 1945 Services Press and Broadcasting Committee c 1967 1993 Vice Admiral Sir Norman Denning was appointed Secretary in 1967 Defence Press and Broadcasting Committee 1993 2015 The records of the previous committees are held in the British National Archives 3 The Defence Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee issued DA Notices from 1993 to 2015 The secretary was a former two star military officer employed from a Ministry of Defence budget and is housed by them although technically independent and the committee is made up of senior civil servants and representatives of national media organisations Membership editThis section needs to be updated The reason given is The Guardian now also sits on the Committee Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information November 2021 The committee consisted of five government representatives and 16 media representatives The five government positions on the committee were all ex officio the chairman being the current Permanent Under Secretary of the Ministry of Defence The 2nd Permanent Under Secretary of the Ministry of Defence the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary the Permanent Under Secretary of the Home Office and the Deputy Under Secretary from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were the other officers The Vice Chairman was chosen by the press members from among their number The media representatives were nominated by the following organisations 4 BBC ITV ITN Sky TV Periodical Publishers Association 2 nominations Newspaper Publishers Association 3 nominations Newspaper Society 2 nominations Press Association Scottish Daily Newspaper Society Society of Editors Book The Publishers Association Google no longer a member as of 2024 update 5 Actions editOn 25 November 2010 the Defence Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee sent DA Notices to UK newspapers 6 regarding an expected major publication by WikiLeaks of a huge cache of United States US diplomatic cables 6 Index on Censorship presented this as part of a harm minimisation strategy the US government has embarked on with an impressive briefing campaign reaching out to allies across the world 6 Overseas influence editAlthough Google was at one time a member the DSMA committee is as of 2024 update largely ignored by the global gatekeeper technology companies 5 Politico has reported that the committee has internally floated the idea of using OFCOM and the provisions of the Online Safety Act to influence these companies 5 References edit Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee Government of the United Kingdom Retrieved 18 April 2017 History of the DSMA Notice System Defence and Security Media Advisory Notice System Archived from the original on 27 February 2017 Retrieved 18 April 2017 Services Press and Broadcasting Committee and predecessors Unregistered Papers National Archives Retrieved 18 April 2017 Frequently Asked Questions The DA Notice System 27 November 2008 Archived from the original on 23 December 2009 Retrieved 18 June 2009 a b c US tech giants refuse to work with Britain s top secret military censorship board POLITICO 27 February 2024 Retrieved 2 March 2024 a b c Butselaar Emily 26 November 2010 Wikileaks UK issues DA Notice as US briefs allies on fresh leak Index on Censorship Retrieved 26 November 2010 Further reading editNicholas Wilkinson Secrecy and the Media The Official History of the United Kingdom s D Notice System Routledge Chapman amp Hall London 2009 ISBN 9781138873506External links editOfficial web site of DA Notices and of the committee Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee amp oldid 1217594455, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
