The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
In the wake of an explosion in London on September 15, President Trump called for cutting off extremists’ access to the internet. Racists and terrorists, and many other extremists, have used the internet for decades and adapted as technology evolved, shifting from text-only discussion forums to elaborate and interactive websites, custom-built secure messaging systems and even entire social media platforms. Continue reading
Imagine, if you will, two scenarios. The first involves four NGOs writing a private letter to the highest authorities of a Bosnian city. “According to our information”, the NGOs state in the letter, the newly appointed Serbian director of a public radio station has displayed a problematic attitude towards Muslims and Bosniacs. Continue reading
In the wake of violence in the US town of Charlottesville, the tech industry has started removing access to some of their services from groups associated with the far-right and those espousing racial intolerance. Continue reading
Australians are often surprised to learn that their Constitution contains no right to free speech. Even the right to political speech, which is constitutionally implied, is increasingly complicated by new online platforms where people can express their views. Continue reading
On July 4, Eren Aksoyoğlu, a member of the Turkish Joint June Movement opposition bloc, was taken into custody for a tweet criticising the government’s handling of a racially-motivated brawl in Ankara. Continue reading
In a judgment handed down today ([2017] UKSC 49) the UK Supreme Court, by a majority of 5:2, dismissed the appeal of the claimant from the refusal of Tugendhat J and the Court of Appeal to grant an injunction to prevent his name being disclosed in connection with a criminal investigation. Continue reading
In Medžlis Islamske Zajednice Brčko and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina ([2017] ECHR 608) the Grand Chamber of the ECtHR found by an 11-6 majority that there was no violation of Article 10 in findings of defamation by the national courts in relation to a public servant’s right to reputation. Continue reading
After long proceedings at national level, a preliminary ruling by the CJEU on 16 December 2008 (Case C-73/07), and after the Court of Human Rights Chamber judgment of 21 July 2015, the Grand Chamber on 27 June 2017 finally found no violation of the right to freedom of expression and information in Satakunnan Markkinapörssi Oy and Satamedia Oy v. Finland. Continue reading
The European Court’s Fifth Section has unanimously held that a damages award made against an Irish newspaper for defamation violated the right to freedom of expression, under Article 10 of the European Convention. While the judgment in Independent Newspapers v. Ireland concerned Irish defamation law prior to reforms brought about in 2009, it is still significant for signalling to Irish courts that unpredictably high damages have a “chilling effect,” and require the “most careful scrutiny” and “very strong justification.” Continue reading
In a judgment in the case of Bayev v Russia ([2017] ECHR 572) handed down on 20 June 2017, the Third Section of European Court of Human Rights found – by six votes to one – that the so-called Russian “gay-propaganda law” banning the promotion of homosexuality violated both Article 10 and Article 14 of the Convention. Continue reading
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