Recently, in relation to my volunteering to help administer mySociety’s freedom of information website WhatDoTheyKnow.com, I came across the February 2013 High Court judgement in which Judge David Eady ruled universities could sue for libel. In my view Mr Eady took it upon himself to substantially change the law via that judgement as previously the [...]
The state of UK libel law has what is often called a “chilling effect”; it restricts people’s freedom to communicate, to report on things, and to participate in public debate. Writing the wrong thing risks a completely disproportionate response from the state. The impact on me, and the effective punishment, which I would expect to [...]
I do not want to see additional state regulation of the press, or of wider journalism. Freedom to report and comment on what is being done by those in power is an essential pillar of our democratic society. Everyone ought be treated equally under the law. Alleged offences committed by those working in the press, [...]