Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated that he believes it may be appropriate to police chants at pro-Palestine marches or stop some protests altogether in the wake of the Golders Green terror attack, which targeted two Jewish men. Starmer told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he is concerned about the “repeat nature” and “cumulative effects” of the protests.

He was joined by the Independent Adviser on terrorism, Jonathan Hall, and Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who called for a moratorium on the marches. However, the proposals were rebuked by others, including the government’s Independent Advisor on anti-Semitism, Lord Mann, who suggested it would be “unconscionable” to outlaw peaceful protest, the Green party leader Zack Polanski and civil society groups such as Stop The War coalition and Defend our Juries. The Independent, The Guardian, BBC, The Telegraph, ITVX,  Al Jazeera, London Evening Standard, The Times covered the development.

The University of Sussex successfully overturned a £585,000 fine imposed by the higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), after the High Court ruled the decision to sanction the University on the basis that it had breached two conditions of registration was unlawful. OfS began investigating free speech and academic freedom at the University following the resignation of Professor Stock, who holds and expresses gender critical views. The investigation centered on the University’s Trans and Non-Binary Equality Policy Statement. OfS concluded that the University breached the conditions of registration as (i) the Policy Statement was a governing document that failed to uphold free speech and academic freedom and (ii) the University failed to comply with its internal delegation scheme when adopting the Policy Statement. Lieven J held that the OfS failed to take relevant matters into account, acted beyond its regulatory powers, predetermined its conclusions and misunderstood principles of free speech and academic freedom. Matrix Chambers has a summary of the judgement, which is available to read in full here.

The Brett Wilson Media Law blog has an article on the reforms to Irish media law under the Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026, which introduces a “serious harm” threshold for companies. Individuals however are not subject to the serious harm test.

Internet and Social Media

A report published by UN Women found that women in public life are facing increasingly sophisticated online violence driven by AI, anonymity, and weak legal protections. The study highlights widespread harassment and non-consensual image sharing, noting that such abuse disproportionately targets journalists, activists, and women with intersecting identities. The Guardian has more information.

Data privacy and data protection

Ministers have confirmed that health data from around 500,000 participants in UK Biobank was briefly listed for sale on Chinese online marketplace, Alibaba, following a breach caused by authorised researchers. While the dataset did not include names or direct identifiers, it contained sensitive details such as age, health metrics, and lifestyle information, raising concerns about potential re-identification and data security. Read UK Biobank’s statement here. The BBC, Telegraph, The Guardian, AP News and The Times covered the story.

Surveillance

The Department for Work and Pensions has published a tender for its plans to deploy covert cameras, live-streaming technology and vehicle-based surveillance to monitor suspected benefit fraud in real-time. The proposed £2 million system would allow investigators to remotely access encrypted video feeds, control cameras and store footage for evidence. The Register and RightsNet have more information.

A study by the International Federation of Journalists reveals that journalists worldwide are increasingly subject to a pervasive system of digital surveillance, where commercial spyware, state intelligence tools and weak oversight combine to monitor, track and potentially target reporters. The report shows how technologies once limited to governments have normalised surveillance through tactics ranging from phishing to advanced “zero-click” spyware.

Newspaper Journalism and regulation

IPSO upheld a complaint by BBC Northern Ireland against the The Irish News, finding it had overstated allegations that staff were “planted” in the audience of Stephen Nolan’s TV show. IPSO concluded the claims misrepresented a source’s account, which more closely described standard audience “spotting,” and ruled the inaccuracy was significant, breaching the Editors’ Code and requiring an apology and adjudication. The regulator also criticised the paper for failing to seek BBC comment before publication and for repeating the claims. Nolan brought related defamation proceedings, which were settled in 2024. The Press Gazette covered the ruling.

IPSO

Statements in open court and apologies

We are not aware of any statements in open court or apologies in the last week.

New Issued cases

There were two defamation (libel and slander) claims filed on the Media and Communication list last week.

Last week in the courts

On 27 April 2026, the High Court struck out the claimant’s claim in the defamation case of Ebin Europe Limited v Mr Kwangho Shin KB-2025-003736. The defendant was employed by the claimant, a cosmetics business, and was dismissed for gross misconduct following statements he made in Korean at a closed business meeting of approximately twenty people. The claimant subsequently brought a defamation claim against the defendant. Master Sullivan held that the claim had no real prospect of success on the basis that the statements complained of were not defamatory because they did not meet the necessary threshold of seriousness. The court also held that allowing defamation actions to be brought for statements made at closed business meetings in the workplace would risk unduly interfering with an individual’s Article 10 rights.

The libel trial in Rodoy v Optical Express KB-2023-002437 continued before Griffiths J on 27 and 29 April 2026.

On Wednesday 29 April 2026, there was an application in the case of Secake & ors v SSCL KB-2025-003373.

On the same day, Aidan Eardley KC (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) struck out the claimant’s claim in the libel case of Whittingham v Jones [2026] EWHC 979 (KB). The defendant is the headteacher of the school which the claimant’s children attend. The claim arises from two emails sent by the defendant to the Chair of Governors and other staff, which the claimant alleges imputed the defamatory meaning that she was threatening, intimidating and posed a risk to staff. The court ruled that the statements complained of were incapable of amounting to a case on serious harm and the claim was struck out. The claimant had also failed to comply with the pre-action protocol, though this was not, in itself, determinative of the application to strike out.

On Thursday 30 April 2026, there were hearings of applications in the cases of BPA v NXT KB-2025-003669 and Picker v TEW KB-2023-003201.

On Friday 1 May 2026 there was a return date hearing in the case of Thorne v Protheroe-Beynon KB-2026-001090.

Media law in other jurisdictions

Australia

The Australian Government has proposed a new “News Bargaining Incentive” levy requiring major tech platforms like Google, Meta and TikTok to pay 2.25% of their Australian revenue unless they strike commercial deals with news publishers. The scheme is designed to push platforms toward agreements that financially support journalism, with incentives that could fully offset the levy. Tech companies condemned the plans as unnecessary. The government has launched a consultation on the proposal which is open for responses until 18 May 2026. ABC, Press Gazette, The Guardian and Australian Financial Review covered the plans.

Canada

On 28 April 2026, the Supreme Court of British Columbia dismissed the defendant’s application for dismissal of the plaintiff’s defamation claim in the case of McLean v McLean, 2026 BCSC 739. The underlying defamation claim relates to an alleged campaign of defamation and harassment that was conducted anonymously over two years on Facebook. The defendant sought to dismiss the claim on the basis that, in order to identify the individual behind anonymous campaign, the plaintiff engaged in investigative techniques that were an abuse of process and invasion of the defendant’s privacy. The court ruled it was in the interests of justice to hear the totality of the evidence at trial, dismissing the defendant’s application.

On 29 April 2026, the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario) handed down judgement in favour of the defendant in the case of Wilson v Ottawa Police Service et al., 2026 ONSC 2410. The plaintiff claimed that the defendants made defamatory accusations against him in their legal submissions. The plaintiff maintained that the defences of fair comment and privilege did not apply. The Court dismissed the plaintiff’s action summarily, finding that it was, on its face, without merit and an abuse of process.

Greece

The Greek government is moving forward with plans to limit anonymity on social media in an effort to reduce online “toxicity”, including harassment, misinformation and hate speech, by requiring platforms to verify users’ identities while still allowing pseudonyms. Critics have raised concerns about the technical challenges involved and implications for free speech. Euractiv, Greek City Times and CyberNews have more information.

United States

Maryland has become the first US state to ban “surveillance pricing” in grocery stores, prohibiting retailers from using personal data to set higher prices for individual shoppers. While the law aims to protect consumers from data-driven price discrimination, critics argue it includes significant loopholes, such as exemptions for loyalty programs, and weak enforcement provisions, raising concerns that companies could still achieve similar outcomes. The Guardian, NYT, TechRadar and Fox News covered the development.

Two bills aimed at improving data rights, The SECURE Data Act 2026 and GUARD Financial Data Act, have been introduced, which, if passed, would impose sweeping federal privacy reforms and expand the Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission’s oversight powers. The legislation includes provisions on data minimisation, consumer rights to access, delete and transfer their data and opt-in consent for sensitive information. It would apply broadly to companies that process the data of more than 200,000 people and introduce new rules for data brokers, while excluding a private right of action. DLA Piper’s Privacy Matters blog has more information.

Research and Resources

Next week in the courts

 We are not aware of any cases listed in the Media and Communications List this week.

Reserved judgements

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

This Round Up was compiled by Jasleen Chaggar who is the Legal and Policy Officer at Big Brother Watch.