Wednesday 29 May 2013

Facebook is to Tighten Controls on Hate Speech and other Misuse

Facebook blog post announcing the decision can be seen here. The BBC reported it here. Index on Censorship voiced fears about freedom of speech on BBC News. Hear some of the voices in support and in dissent of the decision by Facebook on Andrew Sullivan's blog The Dish here.

Friday 24 May 2013

The McAlpine v Bercow High Court Hearing as it Unfolded on Twitter

Full stream of live tweets from (@JackofKent) who attended the preliminary hearing at the High Court in the case of Bercow v McAlpine. Full ruling by Lord Tugendhat here.

Twitter is "inherently dangerous" says David Aaronivitch

The broadcaster and journalist David Aaronivitch (@DAaronovitch) has waded into the McAlpine/Bercow affair and has added his two cents to the debate. He's thrown up some interesting points and insights. Writing in the Times (full article here) the title and header where hard hitting, going like this:












Judge Tugendhat Sends Out Social Media Warning and Advice

From the Spectator quoting Lord McAlpine's solicitor here:
"In the meantime, vindicated Lord McAlpine’s solicitor sounds a clear and concise note: ‘Mr Tugendhat’s judgment is one of great public interest and provides a warning to, and guidance for, people who use social media."
This originally appeared on Twitter for Lawyers here.

Thursday 23 May 2013

"Mr Tugendhat’s judgment is one of great public interest"

From the Spectator quoting Lord McAlpine's solicitor here:
"In the meantime, vindicated Lord McAlpine’s solicitor sounds a clear and concise note:
"Mr Tugendhat’s judgment is one of great public interest and provides a warning to, and guidance for, people who use social media."

The Story of the Defamation Act in Northern Ireland (so far...)






















The Press Gazette and other publishers recently suggested that the unilateral Sammy Wilson decision not to pass a 'legislative consent motion", which would have implemented in full the Defamation Act into Northern Ireland law, could hurt the devolved province. Lord Lester, the Liberal Democrat architect of the new libel law said the decision was a "very bad step" for the public.

Tuesday 21 May 2013

The Good Law Initiative

Efforts are being made to simplify British legislation for the sake of people, businesses, politicians and even lawyers who struggle with incoherent and impenetrable law speak.

Read more in the Telegraph here.

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Mike Nesbitt's draft Defamation (Northern Ireland) Bill in full


A former part-time judge Brian Garrett, the Ulster-born London barrister Austen Morgan and Jeffrey Dudgeon, chairman of the South Belfast UUP association all helped to draft the Defamation (Northern Ireland) Bill [as Introduced by Mike Nesbitt MLA (UUP)]

You can see the full text in the News Letter here.

Thursday 2 May 2013

Libel Reform Campaign letter to Stormont Committee


"I am writing on behalf of the Libel Reform Campaign regarding the Defamation Act 2013. The
Libel Reform Campaign was set up by Index on Censorship, English PEN and Sense About
Science to obtain major changes in the libel laws to better protect free expression. 
As you may know, the Minister of Finance and Personnel submitted a paper last May (2013) on adoption of the then Defamation Bill by the Northern Ireland Executive. By June, he had withdrawn the paper and without scrutiny by either the Assembly or the Executive, a decision was made by Mr. Wilson that the Defamation Bill would not be adopted by the Assembly.