>What about researchers attempting to understand the mechanisms of extremism? Can you get a permit to commit thought crime? My cousin had a university professo

>What about researchers attempting to understand the mechanisms of extremism? Can you get a permit to commit thought crime? My cousin had a university professor who taught an elective about modern terrorism or something like that. He allegedly told the class on day 1 that they would all wind up getting "randomly" selected for pat downs as a result of the research they would have to do. I suspect in the UK that you would be flagged similarly and they'd stop looking into it if it looked like legitimate research or keep looking into it and possibly make an arrest if you seem to be the kind of person they don't like. Regardless, this law sets up a hell of a lot of (completely innocent) people to be harassed by the state.