In October and November last year I wrote an article for The Conversation and Inforrm on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or SLAPPs. Since then I have been invited to join the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on SLAPPs, I have given oral and written evidence to a Justice Committee on SLAPPs, and I have given my views on SLAPPs to the Ministry of Justice in response to its Call for Evidence. Continue reading
The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Month: June 2022 (Page 2 of 2)
On 11 May 2022 Lane J dismissed an application for an interim injunction against Reel News, a London based activist video collective using film to help bring about social change, and journalist Shaun Dey, requiring them to take down a video in which a former employee, Claire Laycock, made serious allegations of sexual harassment at the Transport and Salaried Staffs Association (“TSSA”)
Yesterday in the House of Commons the Government was skewered over its plans to allow extremists or dictators to set up front organisations in the UK and brand themselves “news publishers”, to benefit from a wide ranging and poorly drafted exemption to the Online Safety Bill. Several newspapers have rushed to defend the loophole because they themselves would benefit from. Continue reading
A fair and accessible justice system, and an active and inquiring media, lie at the heart of our democracy. Ensuring that every citizen has recourse to civil litigation, where appropriate, is part of a just society. Continue reading
In a judgment handed down today ([2022] EWHC 1417 (QB)) following a five day trial in January 2022, Steyn J dismissed the libel claim brought by controversial multi millionaire Brexiteer, Arron Banks, against investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr. Continue reading
On 9 June 2022, the trial of preliminary issues in the case of The Duke of Sussex v Associated Newspapers was held before Nicklin J. The Duke is suing the publishers of the Mail on Sunday over articles which he claims meant that he had “lied”, “improperly and cynically” tried to manipulate public opinion, and “tried to keep his legal fight with the Government secret from the public” over his security arrangements when he is in the UK. The Press Gazette has more information here. The Sunday Times, Independent and Evening Standard also covered the hearing. Continue reading
Columbia Global Freedom of Expression seeks to contribute to the development of an integrated and progressive jurisprudence and understanding on freedom of expression and information around the world. It maintains an extensive database of international case law. This is its newsletter dealing with recent developments in the field. Continue reading
Every so often stories of genetic theft, or extreme precautions taken to avoid it, make headline news. So it was with a picture of French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin sitting at opposite ends of a very long table after Macron declined to take a Russian PCR COVID-19 test. Many speculated that Macron refused due to security concerns that the Russians would take and use his DNA for nefarious purposes. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz similarly refused to take a Russian PCR COVID-19 test. Continue reading
Johnny Depp has won his libel case against his ex-wife Amber Heard over her Washington Post Op-Ed in which she said that she was the victim of domestic abuse. Explaining why the outcome likely differs from the 2020 UK judgment against The Sun over similar allegations, Persephone Bridgman Baker, a partner at Carter-Ruck, points to the use of “more evidence in the US proceedings about Heard’s credibility, on which the judge in the UK placed little importance. While the judge in the UK proceedings decided Heard was a credible witness, that additional evidence may have swung a jury.” Continue reading
Columbia Global Freedom of Expression seeks to contribute to the development of an integrated and progressive jurisprudence and understanding on freedom of expression and information around the world. It maintains an extensive database of international case law. This is its newsletter dealing with recent developments in the field. Continue reading
Recent Judgments
© 2026 Inforrm's Blog
Theme by Anders Norén — Up ↑