When she isn’t busy slapping down pro-trans activists on social media, “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling is taking aim at authoritarian policies intended to silence speech.

Scotland’s government recently enacted the Hate Crime and Public Order Act 2021, which is ostensibly intended to address the “rising tide of hatred” in society. The law has stirred controversy due to its broad definitions and the implications for free speech.

The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 makes it a criminal offence to make derogatory comments based on disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex.

Stirring up hatred based on race, colour, nationality or ethnicity was already illegal in Great Britain under the Public Order Act 1986 but is now included in the new law.

Since the law came into effect on Monday Police Scotland has received more than 3,000 complaints.

Rowling has been a vocal critic of the law and the overall progressive transgender movement. In October, she declared that she would “happily” serve time in prison for ther views on gender ideology as the UK’s Labour Party was mulling a similar law.

However, in this episode, Rowling took to X, formerly Twitter, to defiantly rail against Scotland’s new law. In a lengthy thread posted on Monday, she highlighted several biological male inmates who claimed to be transgender just before being sentenced for horrific crimes. Some of these individuals were rapists and child abusers.

Scotland's Hate Crime Act comes into effect today. Women gain no additional protections, of course, but well-known trans activist Beth Douglas, darling of prominent Scottish politicians, falls within a protected category. Phew! 1/11 pic.twitter.com/gCKGwdjr5m

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 1, 2024

Rowling then mocked the new law, stating: “Obviously, the people mentioned in the above tweets aren’t women at all, but men, every last one of them.”

One would think this might be a clear violation of the new law. However, the country’s police announced that they would not prosecute the author, noting that Rowling’s social media posts “are not being treated as criminal.”

The author responded, saying that she hopes “every woman in Scotland who wishes to speak up for the reality and importance of biological sex will be reassured by this announcement, and I trust that all women – irrespective of profile or financial means – will be treated equally under the law.”

I hope every woman in Scotland who wishes to speak up for the reality and importance of biological sex will be reassured by this announcement, and I trust that all women - irrespective of profile or financial means - will be treated equally under the law.https://t.co/CsgehF2a5d

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 2, 2024

This might seem like a welcome development. But the fact that Scotland’s government would pass such a law is worrisome. While Rowling might not be facing prosecution, others who lack the author's name recognition and financial resources might not be so fortunate. It is likely that many Scotland residents might face the wrath of the pro-trans crowd’s use of the government to silence its critics.

It is also important to recognize that the laws being imposed in certain countries could easily come to the United States if Americans are not diligent. The First Amendment should protect us from being punished for wrongspeak. However, this won’t always be the case if authoritarian leftists get their way.