This is the sixteenth instalment in a regular series from Inforrm highlighting press and case reports of new media and information cases from around the world. It is intended to complement our United States: Monthly Round Up posts. Please let us know if there are other cases and jurisdictions which we should be covering. Continue reading
The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Month: June 2021 (Page 1 of 3)
When he announced the Online Harms White Paper in April 2019 the then Culture Secretary, Jeremy Wright QC, was at pains to reassure the press that the proposed regulatory regime would not impinge on press freedom. Continue reading
A Supreme Court decision saying a school district could not punish a student for profane complaints made on a weekend and off school grounds will not stem the torrent of crude, disrespectful speech in American society. Continue reading
The biggest media story of the week was the Sun’s publication of a photograph (and subsequently a video) of the then Health Secretary Matt Hancock in a “steamy clinch” with an aide. The following day, although backed the Prime Minister, Mr Hancock resigned. There was an Inforrm post about the legal issues arising. Continue reading
The Sun’s publication of photographs and video footage of the then Health Secretary in a “steamy clinch” appears to have been universally welcomed by both friends and foes of the Government. It nevertheless gives to difficult legal issues. Continue reading
In the case of Webb v Jones [2021] EWHC 1618 (QB) Griffiths J struck out a claim for libel based on seven Facebook posts due a of serious deficiencies in the particulars of claim. He refused permission to amend on the basis that the case was “unwinnable”. The case provides important lessons for those dealing with libel claims based on social media posts. Continue reading
In an ideal world, the Cabinet minister with responsibility for defending freedom of speech would have some idea of how it works, but Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden clearly needs help on the point. Continue reading
Reading the Times newspaper on Tuesday. I was somewhat gobsmacked to see Sean O’Neill, the paper’s chief reporter, complaining that “The UK has no constitutional protection for a free press and no real cap on costs for libel actions.” These two facts formed the centrepiece of his argument that abuse of British courts is killing free speech. Continue reading
Why does IPSO matter? A new report out this week examines the press complaints body in minute detail and finds it to be little better than a cynical attempt to evade proper regulation, but why should we care? Continue reading
Two days after Twitter took action to remove President’s Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet, the Nigerian Ministry of Information and Culture released a statement on Twitter (interestingly) announcing the “indefinite” suspension of Twitter in the country. Continue reading
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