The Columbia Global Freedom of Expression Award for the most significant legal ruling of 2015 goes to the Supreme Court of Norway, for the ruling in the case of Rolfsen and Association of Norwegian Editors v. the Norwegian Prosecution Authority. Continue reading
The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Month: April 2016 (Page 3 of 4)
Donald Trump’s ascendance has many enablers, but news media deserve special scrutiny. Television news in particular has popularized Trump—and, in doing so, has turned our political process into a reality TV spectacle. Continue reading
This week, as Dominic Ponsford put it in the Press Gazette, ‘the impact of the Panama Papers data leak has continued to snowball around the world.’ The latest consequences include the resignation of the Icelandic prime minister and the publication of the tax details of David Cameron and the other UK party leaders. The next stage is perhaps to follow India and have disclosure of the family wealth of anyone who stands for elected office. Continue reading
It has become common knowledge amongst “Strasbourg observers” that the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights doesn’t have the best reputation in terms of guaranteeing the right of freedom of expression and information. In earlier cases such as in Perna v. Italy, Pedersen & Baadsgaard v. Denmark, Lindon, Otchakovsky-Laurens & July v. France, Stoll v. Switzerland, Palomo Sánchez v. Spain, Animal Defenders International v. United Kingdom, Mouvement Raeliën Suisse v. Switzerland and more recently in Delfi AS v. Estonia and Pentikäinen v. Finland the Grand Chamber’s findings of a non-violation of Article 10 were highly controversial.
David Cameron’s first reaction to the questions about his family’s involvement with the Mossack Fonseca leaks was that it was a ‘private matter’ – something that was greeted with a chorus of disapproval from his political opponents and large sections of both the social and ‘traditional’ media. Continue reading
Universities are under increasing pressure from government to prevent students coming into contact with “extreme” ideas. The view is that students exposed to any kind of views designated “extreme” could be drawn into terrorism. But the risk to freedom of speech and academic freedom is obvious. Society needs to avoid a climate in which ideas are seen as dangerous, deviant and extremist if they differ from views that are believed to be held by the majority. Continue reading
How good is your memory? Does it stretch back to 2013? Or perhaps 2011? Right now, David Cameron is hoping it doesn’t. In those years he made a lot of promises that are no longer convenient for him, so he would prefer you forgot them. Continue reading
The recent publication of the ‘Panama Papers’ – 11.5 million files from offshore law firm Mossack Fonseca revealing the details of the use of offshore tax havens by numerous individuals (including several politicians) and companies poses some immediate legal implications. Continue reading
In a disappointing decision in the case of R v Vice Media Canada Inc (2016 ONSC 1961) an Ontario court has upheld a production order requiring Vice Media Canada Inc. (Vice) to deliver to police communications between reporter Ben Makuch and Farah Shirdon, a Canadian believed to be fighting for ISIS. Continue reading
Since 2013, the Australian sporting landscape has been dominated, not by any particularly amazing footballer, cricketer or athlete. No, it has been dominated by Stephen Dank – “sports scientist”. He is the man responsible for bringing into the Australian consciousness a range of strange sounding peptides, unknown Mexican amino acids and apparently useful horse supplements. He also brought them into the bloodstreams of elite sportsmen across different footballing codes in different states and for different teams. Continue reading
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