The UK Constitutional Law blog has an article on the recent decision from the Court of Appeal reinstating the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000, Secretary of State for the Home Department v R (Huda Ammori) [2026] EWCA Civ 721. The post is concerned with only one of the grounds of the Court of Appeal’s decision; specifically, whether the Divisional Court was correct to find the Secretary of State had misinterpreted her own policy in relation to the proscription of organisations under the 2000 Act.

The HawkTalk blog has an article explaining how the UK Land Registry is denying Subject Access Requests by individuals regarding their personal data relating to their property by quoting an exemption which has been wrongly applied. The piece argues that millions of data subjects should be able to check, free of charge, the accuracy of their household details held by the Land Registry, but are currently prevented from doing so as a result of this mistake by the Land Register.

Inforrm published a critical analysis of the private members bill the Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation Bill, arguing that, as drafted, the early-dismissal mechanism — which would allow courts to throw out cases touching on the public interest whether or not they are meritless or abusive — is unfocused and risks generating satellite litigation, cost and uncertainty rather than curbing genuine SLAPPs. It provides a counterpoint to the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition‘s welcome for the Bills, covered last week. Read the full article here.

Internet and Social Media

Content from “trustworthy” news publishers could be made easier to find on social and video platforms like Youtube and Facebook under new UK proposals. The Government said “a range of national and local news publishers” could be among those given prominence. The exact details have not yet been decided but one of the examples given was that news publishers could be more likely to appear at the top of search results for news-related queries on social and video feeds. DCMS minister Ian Murray told journalists that the Government is currently planning to ask big tech like Youtube and Meta to make the changes voluntarily but could ultimately pursue regulation and legislation if they do not do so. The Press Gazette has more information here.

On 25 June, Ofcom published a statement setting out changes to its Illegal Harms regulatory documents and guidance, formalising new crisis-response expectations on platforms. The move follows Ofcom’s earlier open letter to UK online service providers regarding the civil unrest in Belfast, sent after a serious knife attack in the city, in which Ofcom warned providers of the increased risk of their platforms being used to stir up hatred, provoke violence and commit other offences under UK law. Under the proposed measures, platforms would be expected to prepare and apply an internal crisis-response protocol to manage spikes in illegal content, carry out a post-crisis analysis and make records available to Ofcom on request, with larger providers maintaining a police hotline. Ofcom’s Online Safety Group Director Oliver Griffiths noted these updates require Parliamentary approval before coming into force, but said firms should not wait and should act now to address illegal content. Telecoms.com and Reuters have more information.

Data Privacy and Data Protection

Privacy International has an article on the privacy and personal data implications of Anthropic’s Claude Mythos and its consumer-facing version, Fable model. Mythos demonstrated advanced capability in identifying software vulnerabilities, providing working proofs that the vulnerabilities were exploitable, and chaining together vulnerabilities to achieve it. The concern surrounding Mythos is that AI can help discover software flaws and dramatically accelerates the ability to identify and exploit weaknesses in systems responsible for safeguarding personal data.

On 23 June 2026, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announced that the new legal requirements on how organisations handle data protection complaints are now in force, marking a significant change for businesses across the UK. The Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Blog has more information here.

On 24 June 2026, the ICO issued a statement on the “Edtech examined” report, reiterating that children’s personal information must be processed responsibly and fairly in compliance with data protection law.

Artificial Intelligence

Anthropic may ask Claude users to verify their age and identity by uploading their government-issued documents, according to a new version of the company’s privacy policy. The AI giant says the move was to allow users to appeal having their account flagged for potentially fraudulent activity rather than outright banning them, but comes at a time when Anthropic seeks to placate the Trump administration amid an ongoing standoff over who gets access to the company’s AI tools. According to a new section in its latest privacy policy published earlier in June and set to take effect on 8 July, Anthropic says it will ask for a user to prove their age or identity “in certain circumstances,” without providing specific examples. TechCrunch has more information here.

Newspapers Journalism and Regulation

Hacked Off has a feature on the Better Media Rally it hosted at Westminster’s Methodist Central Hall. The diverse list of speakers included Hacked Off Board director Hugh Grant, who spoke of his wish that the future Prime Minister ‘whoever it might be’ will stand up for the public interest and deliver the change the Labour Party promised.

The UK News Industry has shown support for the proposed Automated Online Software (Access and Transparency) Bill, which is being drafted to stop companies deploying AI bots from using deceptive tactics to scrape websites. The proposed Bill follows New York state passing the Stealth Crawler Preservation Act. Both seek to address the issue of bots that hide or do not disclose their intention – such as search indexing or AI training – and who is behind them. 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 week.

New Issued Cases

There was one Defamation (libel and slander) and one Harassment claim filed on the Media and Communications list last week.

Last Week in the Courts

On Monday 22 June 2026, Griffiths J heard an application to commit in the case of Northcott v Hundeyin KB-2023-002761.

On Tuesday 23 June 2026, there was a hearing of an application in the case of Phillips v Oloffs.

On Wednesday 24 June 2026, there was a hearing of an application in the case of Emerging Media Ventures Ltd v Kundra  KB-2025-001918.

On 25 June 2026, Mrs Justice Hill delivered judgment on meaning in Drabble & Anor v Bramhall [2026] EWHC 1588 (KB). The claim related to two posts in a Facebook community group called “Dove Holes Community Page” regarding the preparations for the annual Dove Holes Bonfire event scheduled for Tuesday 5 November 2024. Hill J’s meaning is set out at [44] of the judgment. In summary, she found the posts to bear the meaning that the First Claimant (i) had driven a motor vehicle around the community centre while “high” on illegal drugs; (ii) had had a knife in his possession, which the police seized and put in an evidence bag; and (iii) had falsely claimed, or materially exaggerated, that he had been kicked in the face while on the ground. Statements (i) and (ii) were statements of fact, but statement (iii) was a statement of opinion. In relation to the Second Claimant, the posts bore the meaning that (i) she had spoken and behaved in a way that was wholly inappropriate for a parish councillor; and (ii) because of this, she was unfit for her public and community role. These were both statements of opinion.

On 26 June 2026, Guy Vassall-Adams KC handed down judgment in the libel, malicious falsehood and breach of the UK GDPR claim of Graveley v Schestowitz [2026] EWHC 1611 (KB). Vassall-Adams KC struck out Dr Schestowitz’s Defence for non-compliance with various rules and practice directions, and entered summary judgment in favour of Mr Graveley on the counterclaim [30]. Mr Graveley issued libel proceedings over an article that alleged he was a ‘serial strangler’. Dr Schestowitz made a number of interim applications, this latest judgment relates to a 190-page defence and counterclaim.  Mr Graveley applied to strike out the defence because it was incoherent and non-compliant with the Civil Procedure Rules [27], and for summary judgment on the counterclaim on the basis that it was incapable of succeeding as a matter of law (the counterclaim was for harassment, and the course of conduct relied upon was the fact of the legal proceedings themselves). Brett Wilson has more information here.

Media Law in Other Jurisdictions

Australia

The Australian Privacy Commissioner has found, in 2 separate determinations, that health service providers Medmate Australia Pty Ltd (Medmate) and Monash IVF Pty Ltd (Monash) interfered with the privacy of individuals whose sensitive information was collected via third-party tracking pixels. The Privacy Commissioner’s decision establishes that the use of tracking pixels to track website visitors to health-related websites, and to subsequently target them with advertising on social media platforms, amounts to a collection of sensitive information for which the website provider must obtain users’ consent. Read the Privacy Commissioner’s Press Release here.

Georgia

Algorithm Watch has an article on the Russian surveillance software that is being used to suppress Georgian Civilians Rights. Over the past two years, the Georgian government has built a comprehensive face recognition enforcement system, procured by a Moscow-based company with ties to the Federal Security Service (FSB). The article explains that the impact on demonstrators is appalling.

New Zealand

The IAPP blog has an article analysing how the New Zealand privacy commissioner’s inquiry into the Manage My Health data breach could lead to a notable shift in the country’s privacy framework. Among the recommendations in the report is a proposal to amend the Privacy Act 2020 to make third-party service providers directly liable for failing to implement reasonable security safeguards. If adopted, the change would represent a notable shift in New Zealand’s privacy framework.

United States

An opaque White House office staffed largely by veterans of Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge) has quietly rebuilt some of the federal government’s most sensitive websites – for passport applications, voter registration, prescription-drug pricing and children’s savings – in ways critics say appear to violate federal law. A Guardian investigation has found the office has apparently been developing or redeveloping sensitive federal websites, including those connecting Americans with prescription drugs, children’s savings accounts, passports and voter registration. The investigation corroborates and advances earlier reporting by the Drey Dossier, a YouTube investigative outlet.

Proceedings continue in Tyra Banks v Netflix and EverWonder Studio, the defamation claim over the docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, in which Banks alleges her interview was edited to suggest she ignored a contestant’s alleged assault; she seeks damages and an injunction. Inforrm has an article setting out why US public-figure defamation standards make the claim difficult. The Guardian and AP have more information.

Research and Resources

Next Week in the Courts 

On Monday 29 June 2026 there will be a hearing in the case of Al Sadik v Sadik QB-2017-002613.

On Tuesday 30 June 2026 there will be a hearing in the case of Ameyaw v Anthony KB-2026-000056

On Wednesday 1 July 2026 there will a hearing in the case of Pattinson v Winsor

Reserved Judgments

Kaur v Fox, heard 8 June 2026 (Linden J)

Bridgen v Hancock, heard 20 May 2026 (King, Warby and Whipple LJJ)

Vince v Tice, heard 14 May 2026 (Lewison, Coulson and Warby LJJ)

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

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