The previously anonymous operator of an online gossip forum has been unmasked after losing a defamation case. Sebastian Bond, also known as Bastian Durward, has been confirmed as the man behind Tattle Life after an Irish couple successfully sued the publisher.

Tattle Life describes itself as a platform for “commentary and critiques of people that choose to monetise their personal life as a business and release it into the public domain”. It attracts up to 12 million visitors monthly, mostly in the UK. The website has long been criticised for threads of toxic and hate-filled comments. On Friday 20 June 2025 at the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland, Mr Justice Colton confirmed that Bond and two of his firms – Yuzu Zest Limited, a UK-registered company, and Kumquat Tree Limited, registered in Hong Kong – were the publishers of the site. Bond had been using the name “Helen McDougal” on the website. The Guardian, BBC, RDJ, Belfast Telegraph and BreakingNews.ie have more information.

On 19 June 2025, the UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 received Royal Assent. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published a comprehensive suite of resources on the DUAA. The resources include, among other things, a factual summary of the DUAA and an outline of the ICO’s plans to roll out new or updated guidance as the DUAA’s provisions gradually come into effect. The implementation of these provisions will be staggered, with some likely taking up to 12 months.

Data Privacy and Data Protection

The genetic testing company 23andMe is facing a £2.31 million fine from the ICO for insufficient data security measures that led to a 2023 data breach impacting 6.9 million customers globally, including those in Canada and the UK. Specific to its data security claims, the ICO alleged 23andMe “did not have effective systems in place to monitor, detect, or respond to cyber threats targeting its customers’ sensitive information.” Additionally, the enforcers claimed the company had “inadequate” incident response, noting it “failed to properly investigate signals that a breach may be occurring, including a credible claim that customer data had been stolen.” IAPP has more information here.

Surveillance

On 16 June 2025, the ICO published their first guidance for developers and manufacturers of smart products, setting out clearly how people’s personal information should be collected, used and shared responsibly.

Events 

On Thursday 3 July 2025, a number of leading academics and practitioners will gather in central London to discuss how media law responds to those who make public allegations of wrongdoing and what impact those responses have on different media actors. It will examine a range of recent media law developments and, crucially, place those developments in their wider societal context (including the #metoo movement). The presenters are from New Zealand, Australia, the United States and United Kingdom and, although the papers’ principal focus will be the law of England & Wales, a range of comparative perspectives will also be included. The programme for the conference is available here. To register for the conference click here.

IPSO

Statements in Open Court and Apologies

A publicist who has represented celebrities including Sienna Miller and Jude Law is set to receive “substantial damages” after settling a claim over alleged voicemail interception and misuse of private information against the publisher of The Sun. Via a statement read out in court, Ciara Parkes said she had “witnessed first-hand the damage and distress that she believes the defendant’s targeting had caused to the people closest to her and found it upsetting, not only watching the people she cares about suffer, but feeling that at times she was suspected of being the cause of that suffering.” The Press Gazette and 5RB have more information.

Pakistani rock singer Meesha Shafi has won a defamation case against ARY’s UK broadcaster, New Vision TV (NVTV), which issued an on-air apology and agreed to settle the case out of court. In its apology, NVTV admitted that its report had created a “misunderstanding” and stated: “We are sorry if our broadcast caused Meesha Shafi any distress.” Dawn and Images Dawn have more information.

The Daily Mail has apologised to two clinical psychologists who it falsely described as “doctors who doled out puberty blockers to a generation of vulnerable children”.  This apology followed the commencement of legal proceedings, Kelly and another v Associated Newspapers Limited KB-2025-001024 in which the claimants were represented by Edwards Duthie Shamash.

New Issued Cases

There were two defamation claims and one miscellaneous claim filed on the media and communication list last week.

Last Week in the Courts

On Monday 16 June 2025 there was the return date for BTJ & ORS v Persons Unknown KB-2025-001984.

On Tuesday 17 June 2025 there was an application for renewal in Wilson v Stroud Green Housing Co-operative Ltd KA-2024-000109.

On the same day, judgment on damages and injunctive relief was handed down by Alegre J in Ogunkanmi v Chia [2025] EWHC 1404 (KB). £25,000 in damages was awarded for both the harassment and the libel [95] and injunctive relief, both in relation to posting messages or images on social media about the Claimant and in relation to communicating, directly or indirectly with the Claimant, was found necessary and proportionate to put a stop to the ongoing attacks on the Claimant [99].

On Wednesday 18 June 2025 there was a pre-trial review in Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari v Syed Tauqeer Bukhari QB-2020-001139. On the same day, the defendant made an application for a general civil restraint order in Atole Timothy Enaholo v Claims Governance Totally PLC and another QB-2022-001025.

On Thursday 19 June 2025, Hill J refused the application for appeal in Wilson v Stroud Green Housing Co-Operative Ltd [2025] EWHC 1508 (KB).

On Friday 20 June 2025, there were applications in Dorban and another v Roper KB-2024-001960 and IT Services UK Limited v Rippon KB-2024-002843, and a return date for AMV v TDX KB-2025-001902.

On the same day, Hill J refused the application for appeal the costs in Elphicke v Times Media Ltd [2025] EWHC 1554 (KB) and Spearman J dealt with the preliminary issues on meaning in Johnson v Helm [2025] EWHC 1546 (KB).

Media Law in Other Jurisdictions

Australia

Capital Brief has an article analysing Australia’s new Privacy tort’s exemption for the media, and the way it differs from other common law countries. Read more here.

Europe

On 16 June, the Council of the European Union and European Parliament announced a provisional agreement on the long-awaited General Data Protection Regulation Procedural Regulation — a key legislation aimed at harmonizing cooperation between EU member state data protection authorities in cross-border enforcement cases. The agreement marks a near-final step in the EU’s legislative effort to formalize consistent procedural rules for the operation of the GDPR’s cooperation and consistency framework. The IAPP blog has more information here.

Ireland

On 19 June 2025, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission released its Annual Report for 2024. The report focuses on data protection issues and the DPC’s evolving role under the EU Artificial Intelligence act and other digital laws. The DPC is the lead supervisory authority for many of the world’s major technology platforms, and this report provides a lens into the evolving nature of EU General Data Protection Regulation enforcement against some of the largest companies on the planet.

This year’s report reveals significant developments across investigations, litigation, inter-regulatory cooperation and cross border enforcement. The report gives us high-level information on the DPC’s decisions, inquiries and litigation matters, and includes summaries of each.

Poland

The European Parliament and the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union reached a provisional agreement on 16 June 2025 on a long-awaited regulation aimed at improving cooperation between national-level data protection authorities when enforcing cross-border cases under the General Data Protection Regulation. The agreement also includes clarification of relevant procedures and rights as well as “fleshing out of earlier provisions” related to cooperation and dispute resolution procedures. IAPP has more information here.

Rwanda

Rwanda recently approved a National Data Sharing Policy, taking a step forward in the privacy domain. This policy crucially arrives as countries increasingly recognize data as a strategic national asset. It is a logical and vital progression for Rwanda, a country lauded for its ambitious digital transformation agenda. The National Data Sharing Policy between Government Agencies directly supports the country’s overarching development blueprints, particularly its goal of strengthening the capacity and service delivery of public institutions — and the long-term vision for a national development plan that aims to create “accountable and capable state institutions” and an improved economy. IAPP has more information here.

United States

On 18 June 2025, US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, struck down a rule adopted by the administration of former President Joe Biden that strengthened privacy protections for women seeking abortions and patients who receive gender transition treatments. Judge Kacsmaryk ruled that the US Department of Health and Human Services exceeded its powers and unlawfully limited states’ ability to enforce their public health laws when it adopted the rule last year. Medscape and the Privacy and Information Security Law Blog have more information.

Research and Resources

Next Week in the Courts 

On Tuesday 24 June 2025 the court will hear an application by the defendant in the case of Sikhs for Justice and another v Ranger KB-2022-004490 

On Wednesday 25 June 2025 there will be a return date hearing in the case of Emerging Media Ventures Ltd v Kundra KB-2025-001918, listed for 1 day

On the same day there will be an amendment application in the case of Dowding v The Character Group PLC and others KB-2023-003510 also listed for1 day

On Thursday 26 June 2025 there will be an application for summary judgment in the case of  McAteer v Thoburn KB-2024-003652.

On Friday 27 June 2025 there will be a statement in open court in the case of Gibbons and others v Coldrick KB-2024-003001.

Reserved Judgments

Kul and Ors v DWF Law LLP – 4 and 5 June 2025 (Eady J).

Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon v Associated Newspapers, 6 and 7 May 2025 (Nicklin J).

Clarke v Guardian News and Media, 4 March – 4 April and 11 April 2025 (Steyn J).

Colette Allen is the host of Newscast on Dr Thomas Bennett and Professor Paul Wragg’s The Media Law Podcast (@MediaLawPodcast).