The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog

Month: January 2013 (Page 6 of 6)

Lessons from Motorman, Part 1: Whittamore, the PCC and Operation Glade – Julian Petley

Motorman FilesIn March 2003, investigators from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), raided the offices of a private detective, Steve Whittamore.  As Tom Watson and Martin Hickman put it:  “They were amazed at what they discovered: Britain’s best-selling newspapers and magazines were driving a thriving black market in illegal data, requesting (and receiving) ex-directory numbers, car registration numbers, health records and criminal records. The targets ranged from glamorous actresses such as Elizabeth Hurley to the families of victims of newsworthy crimes, such as the parents of Holly Wells, a child murdered by the paedophile Ian Huntley at Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002. (28-9). Continue reading

Defamation Bill: MoJ Informal Consultation on Regulations under Clause 5

internet-defamationClause 5 of the Defamation Bill is entitled “Operators of Websites”.  Its purpose is to provide a new defence for website operators in circumstances where the claimant can pursue his claim for defamation against the person who posted the statement.   It has been extensively debated on this blog and elsewhere.  On 19 December 2012 it was one of the clauses considered by the House of Lords Grand Committee. Continue reading

Inforrm 2012 Media Law Quiz of the Year

QuizFollowing the runaway success of our Media Law quizzes for 2010 and 2011 we are repeating the exercise for 2012 – with one important change.  The runaway winner in 2010 and 2011, Benjamin Pell, has graciously agreed to forego the chance of an hat trick and has, instead, agreed to take on the role of quiz master.  This should encourage all our readers to take part. Many of the answers can be found in Inforrm’s comprehensive 2012 media and law coverage. Continue reading

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