A trans rights group in London hacked the Free Speech Union’s website, exposing over 3000 donations totaling £392,000 since January 2024
Free Speech Union Faces Hacking Incident
The Free Speech Union (FSU) was founded by Tory peer Toby Young in 2020. It started by charging membership fees to defend individuals targeted by “an outrage mob on social media.”
Recently, the FSU has promoted far-right views, claiming that Islam is a major threat to free speech in the UK. It has also campaigned against Labour Government policies and supported Reform UK politicians.
Bash Back Claims Responsibility for Hacking
Bash Back, a “trans-led direct action project,” announced on Monday that it hacked the FSU’s website. They published a spreadsheet with over 3,000 donations since January 26, 2024, totaling around £392,000.
Bash Back stated, “The @SpeechUnion commissioned a ‘security’ report on us, so we tested their security. Turns out – it sucks.” They also revealed the names of all donors to FSU fundraisers, along with the amounts donated and the campaigns supported.
On their website, Bash Back explained they accessed the donation list through a “vulnerable plugin” on the FSU’s WordPress site. They criticized the FSU, saying it protects “transphobes, racists, and anti-choice ‘activists.’”
Notable Donors and Donations
| Donor Name | Notable Position |
|---|---|
| Alister Jack | Former Scottish Secretary |
| Malcolm Pearson | Scottish Peer, Former UKIP Leader |
| Julia Hartley-Brewer | Hard-Right Broadcaster |
| Peter Cruddas | Tory Donor and Peer |
| Richard Littlejohn | Daily Mail Columnist |
The highest single donation was £25,000 from Paul Cook. The FSU has been contacted for a response to the leak, but its website is currently down, showing a “404 not found” error.
Toby Young’s Controversial Background
Toby Young has a history of controversial remarks, including sexist comments about female politicians and advocating for “progressive eugenics” in education. He was nominated for a life peerage by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch in December 2024 and now serves in the House of Lords as “Lord Young of Acton.”
His father, Sir Michael Young, also served in the House of Lords. Toby Young mentioned in his memoir that he gained admission to Oxford University despite receiving “two Bs and a C” at O-level, thanks to his father’s influence.
