The Easter term will begin on Tuesday 14 April 2026 and will end on Friday 22 May 2026.

The trial in the case of Baroness Lawrence & ors v ANL KB-2022-003316  before Nicklin J concluded on Tuesday 31 March 2026. The Press Gazette provides a round-up of the 11-week hearing here.

More than 500 people have been arrested at the first mass demonstration opposing the proscription of Palestine Action since the group’s ban was ruled unlawful by the high court. Palestine Action was designated a “terrorist” organisation in July, making membership in or support for the group punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Although the High Court overturned this ban in mid-February, citing free speech concerns, the government has appealed the ruling. After initially pausing arrests after the order, police resumed enforcement in late March. The Guardian and Al Jazeera have more information.    

Greece has announced plans to ban access to social media for under-15s, becoming the latest European country to restrict children’s exposure to online platforms. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the move was aimed at tackling rising anxiety and sleep problems among young people, as well as what he described as the “addictive design” of social media. The restriction will come into force from January of next year. The BBC has more information here.

Internet and Social Media

Privacy International has an article on the recent Court of Justice of the European Union cases that confirm that IP addresses constitute personal data. An IP address, which is used to direct communication between devices, can be linked to someone’s physical identity, in particular when combined with information held by an internet service provider.

Data Privacy and Data Protection

On 31 March 2026, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) published a report and draft guidance on the use of automated decision-making in recruitment. The ICO’s new report draws on evidence gathered from over 30 employers, as well as “public perceptions research” capturing views from graduates, civil society, government, trade unions, and industry bodies. One of the key headlines identified by the ICO is that many employers do not acknowledge that they are carrying out ADM. As a result, employers fail to ensure that sufficient safeguards are in place – such as transparency, bias monitoring, accountability, and data subject rights. The ICO is clear that it expects employers to follow the guidance set out in the report, and this should be treated as a strong signal that enforcement action may follow where organisations fall short. DLA Piper has more information here.

The ICO also published information on the use and storage of personal data during the May Parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales and local elections in England.

Surveillance

Privacy International has an article on the US police’s access to a wide range of databases that they can use to look up and misuse information about people. PI warns that this can result in humiliating and bad decisions, sometimes causing long-term damage to people’s lives. In-depth research by Rights & Security International and PI reveals the impact of this, and the article argues for more effective limits on what kinds of personal information police in the US – and everywhere – can view, when and why.

Newspapers Journalism and Regulation

UK news publishers have warned the Government against “extremely concerning” proposals to reduce the cost ceiling for processing Freedom of Information requests. The FT cited a steep rise in the number of annual FOI submissions (up 18% year on year) and constrained Government budgets as reasons for the move being considered. Currently central government can reject FOI requests on cost grounds if it is deemed a response will cost more than £600 to gather. The limit for other public authorities is set at £450. Staff time is charged at £25 an hour. The Press Gazette has more information here.

IPSO

Statements in Open Court and Apologies

We are not aware of any statements in open court or apologies from the last two weeks.

New Issued Cases

There were five defamation (libel and slander) claims and one Miscellaneous claim filed on the media and communication list in the last two weeks.

Last Week in the Courts

As mentioned above, the trial in the case of Baroness Lawrence & ors v ANL KB-2022-003316  concluded on Tuesday 31 March 2026 before Nicklin J.

On Monday 30 March 2026 there was a directions hearing in the case of Northcott v Hundeyin KB-2023-002761.

On Tuesday 31 March 2026 there was a contempt directions hearing in the case of Foot Anstey LLP and another v Stimson KB-2024-002927.

On the same day, the Court of Appeal (Lord Justice Singh and Lord Justice Coulson) handed down judgment in Currie v Soho Theatre Company Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 400. This was an appeal against the finding on meaning made by Nicklin J as recorded in an Order dated 3 April 2026. The claim for libel relates to a Press Release published by the Defendant/Respondent following an incident at the Claimant/Appellant’s show at the Soho Theatre. Nicklin J found the found that the natural and ordinary meaning of the Press Release is as follows: “Following the end of the [Appellant’s] show, the [Appellant] had verbally abused Jewish members of the audience and aggressively demanded that they leave the theatre and there were grounds to investigate whether by so doing the [Appellant] had committed a criminal offence. This conduct was: (a) intimidating and anti-Semitic; (b) appalling and unacceptable; and (c) inconsistent with the values of Soho Theatre, and justified the theatre in refusing to allow the Claimant the opportunity to perform at the Soho Theatre in the future.” The first sentence was an allegation of fact and the underlined text was an expression of opinion. The appeal was dismissed; the Appellant’s attempt to insert the words “because they were Jewish” into the first sentence was an attempt to place the implicit words in the category of statements of fact, rather than Nicklin J’s reasonable decision to place them into the category of an expression of opinion. Nicklin J accepted the submission made on behalf of the Respondent that the Press Release did not attribute or allege a particular motive “as a matter of fact.” He placed “antisemitism” in the category of opinion [23]. Nicklin J did not fall into error in his approach or reach a conclusion which was not reasonably open to him [24].

Also on the same day, there was a hearing in the case of Hammacott v Google LLC KB-2026-000912

On 1 April 2026, Nicklin J handed down the costs decision in Full Colour Black Ltd (t/a Brandalised) v The Artist Known As “Banksy” & Anor [2026] EWHC 795 (KB). FCB were ordered to costs on an indemnity basis from the date that a substantive response to the claim was issued by the Defendants. The defamation claim brought by FCB was without any real prospect of success [120]; the proceedings were deployed to exert pressure relying upon Banksy’s well-known concern to preserve his anonymity as central to his artistic expression [121].

Media Law in Other Jurisdictions

Australia

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has published an exposure draft of the landmark Privacy (Children’s Online Privacy) Code 2026, which crystallises expectations around how personal information of children must be collected and handled under the Privacy Act 1988. The Code applies on a “per service” basis to providers of social media services, relevant electronic services or designated internet services (as defined in the Online Safety Act 2021), that are likely to be accessed by children (excluding health services). This is intended to capture a broad range of applications, including “family photo sharing applications” and “internet-connected baby monitors”. DLA Piper has more information here.

Teenagers are still accessing social media despite the country’s controversial policy that bans social media for Under-16s coming into effect late last year. The eSafety commissioner revealed last month that despite over 5 million accounts being deactivated, more than two-thirds of teens were still on the 10 platforms subject to the ban – Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X, Twitch, Kick, Threads and Reddit. Children were easily bypassing facial age estimation technology if aged within two years of 16, and half of the platforms initially included in the ban were being assessed for non-compliance. The Guardian and Times have more information.

Canada

A Canadian hate speech bill is drawing backlash from critics who warn it could chill religious speech. Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, introduced by Canadian Liberal Justice Minister Sean Fraser, passed the House of Commons on 25 March 2026 and now heads to the Senate. NYC Post has more information here.

Greece

As mentioned above, Greece has announced plans to ban access to social media for under-15s, becoming the latest European country to restrict children’s exposure to online platforms.

Japan

Japan has announced reforms to data protection laws which are set to enhance AI development, however critics warn this may compromise individuals’ personal privacy. The Cabinet of Japan has approved a bill amending the Act on the Protection of Personal Information to support AI innovation and development. This marks a shift from a consent-based model towards a more flexible framework that prioritises data use for innovation. Digit News has more information here.

Italy

The messaging service WhatsApp has that said an Italian surveillance company tricked some 200 ​users into downloading a bogus version of ‌its popular app that was rigged to spy on its victims. In a statement, the Meta Platforms-owned service ​said the campaign was carried out by ​ASIGINT, a subsidiary of northern Italy-based SIO, ⁠whose website boasts of “high-performance, field-proven cyber intelligence solutions ​and technology.” Reuters has more information here. WhatsApp said the campaign was “highly targeted” and ​relied on deception to get victims to install “malicious software that impersonated WhatsApp.” It did not identify the victims ​beyond saying they were “primarily” in Italy. Reuters has more information here.

United States

On 7 April 2026, the Alabama legislature unanimously passed House Bill 351, the Alabama Personal Data Protection Act. The bill makes Alabama the 21st state to enact a comprehensive consumer privacy statute. DLA Piper has more information here.

Open AI, a popular public AI tool, has been accused in federal court of practicing law without a license. The Inside Tech Law blog has more information here.

HBO has obtained a DMCA subpoena, ordering X Corp. to identify the person behind a Euphoria fan account that allegedly posted spoilers from unaired episodes of Season 3. The action comes just days before the show’s long-awaited premiere this weekend, but it remains unclear what the company plans to do with the requested information. TorrentFreak has more information here.

Research and Resources

Next Week in the Courts 

We are not aware of any MAC List hearings in the first week of term.

Reserved Judgments

Baroness Lawrence & ors v ANL, heard 19 January – 31 March 2026 (Nicklin J)

Pearson v Chief Constable of Essex Police, heard 24 March 2026 (Chamberlain J)

Clutterbuck v The Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, heard 16-18 March 2026 (Dan Squires KC)

Graham and another v Beckett, heard 17 March 2026 (Heather Williams J)

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