A ticketing company previously accused by overseas media of taking political sides on social issues has been called out in New Zealand for having "succumbed to bullying" after stopping the sale of tickets to an upcoming event due to unsubstantiated and incorrect claims made by a local activist. 

Eventbrite, an online ticket retailer, this week cancelled its services for an upcoming conference hosted by Genspect. Activist, Paul Thistoll, wrote online, "All we did was point out to Eventbrite's chief legal officer via email that the event would discuss practises that may fall foul of NZ law."

The Free Speech Union slammed Thistoll's actions. The union's chief executive, Jonathan Ayling said, "When any tech company gives into censorship, they simply set themselves up to be bullied into enacting further censorship in the future.  If anyone disapproves of Genspect's conference, they don't have to buy a ticket or attend.  But no-one should deny anyone else's right to do so."

"The activist not only called for Eventbrite to pull the plug but claimed that healthcare practitioners who attend the conference risk professional consequences.  As outlined in the attached legal opinion by Nicolette Levy KC, these claims have no factual or legal basis and are simply designed to bully and intimidate participants out of attending."

"Despite [the] activist's attempts to cancel this event, Genspect is pressing on and within hours has set up on a new ticket distribution site ... everyone has a right to be able to share their views and hear others express theirs."

In her legal opinion, Levy KC wrote, "my opinion is that a doctor speaking at the Genspect conference, intending to contribute to an evidence-based discussion on the issue of treatment of childhood gender dysphoria, would not be in breach of any ethical standard or guilty of professional misconduct likely to bring discredit to the profession."

Levy KC wrote that, in her opinion, Thistoll's suggestion that gender-exploratory therapy is highly likely to be prohibited under the Conversion Practises Prohibition Act 2022 was "incorrect".

Thistoll's actions occurred in the same week that retired UK Supreme Court Judge, Lord Sumption was in New Zealand speaking about free speech and the dangers of censorship.  Speaking to the breakfast show, AM on Three yesterday, Sumption said, "diversity of opinion matters. You've got to persuade publishers, venues and broadcasters that actually they shouldn't be intimidated. The only reason why people behave like this, trying to suppress other people's views, is that experience shows that it works. And the only what that it stops, is if it stops working and the way that that's going to happen is that people pay no attention to it and just get on with the business of listening to people who have got something interesting to say."

Jan Rivers from Genspect told Newstalk ZB Plus, "We are delighted that the Free Speech Union has seen fit to give attention to this issue to the extent of commissioning a legal opinion.  Although complex and nuanced the opinion appears to support the view that clinicians must be able to speak about their concerns.  Many medical examples warn us that suppressing concerns has had disastrous consequences."

Eventbrite has recently hit media headlines overseas for cancelling ticket services to events that discuss issues relating to transgender rights. 

In the United States, competitive swimmer Riley Gaines saw ticketing to her event on "Protecting Women's Sports" cancelled by Eventbrite earlier this month. 

The event was promoted as a speech from Gaines against women sharing a locker room with transgender men, Eventbrite issued an email to the organizer stating that the event listing violated the terms of the agreement. 

Thistoll was approached by Newstalk ZB Plus for comment but did not respond.