High Court to consider Data Protection Act bid to halt reporting of corruption allegations – Panopticon

‘Can the Data Protection Act 1998 (“DPA”) be used to prevent a respected NGO from reporting allegations of corruption by a multi-billion dollar international mining conglomerate? That is the stark question posed by Steinmetz and others v Global Witness Limited, a recently issued High Court DPA Claim.’

Full story

Panopticon, 10th February 2014

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Comic behind West Brom striker Nicolas Anelka’s ‘quenelle’ gesture banned from UK – Daily Telegraph

‘The comedian who is said to have invented the quenelle gesture, which is seen by many as anti-semitic, has been banned from entering the country as Nicolas Anelka could be given a five match ban.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd February 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regina (Core Issues Trust) v Transport for London (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Women and Equalities intervening) – WLR Daily

Regina (Core Issues Trust) v Transport for London (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Women and Equalities intervening) [2014] EWCA Civ 34; [2014] WLR (D) 35

‘Where the decision of a public body was shown to be unlawful, the court should be reluctant to refuse relief on the ground that, acting lawfully, the decision-maker would have reached the same decision, particularly if the power had been exercised not for its statutory purpose but for an ulterior motive. In such a case the court should grant appropriate relief.’

WLR Daily, 27th January 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Veiled Muslim woman will not give evidence – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 28th, 2014 in evidence, freedom of expression, intimidation, Islam, news by sally

‘Woman on trial on witness intimidation charges who was told to remove full-face veil if she wanted to take to the witness box decides not to give evidence.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th January 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

London transport’s ban on anti-gay ad put in doubt by court of appeal – The Guardian

‘A London transport ban on a Christian charity’s posters suggesting gay people can “move out of homosexuality” has been put in doubt by a court of appeal judgment that ordered an investigation into whether the mayor, Boris Johnson, acted “for an improper purpose”.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge warns jury of wrongful prejudice over defendant’s Muslim face veil – The Guardian

‘A judge warned a jury on Wednesday that it was wrong to be prejudiced against anyone because of their expression of religious faith, as a Muslim defendant prepared to go on trial wearing a full face veil.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Two guilty of sending ‘menacing’ tweets to Caroline Criado-Perez – The Independent

Posted January 7th, 2014 in freedom of expression, internet, malicious communications, news by sally

‘Two people have pleaded guilty to sending “menacing” tweets to a feminist campaigner following her successful campaign to ensure a woman features on British banknotes.’

Full story

The Independent, 7th January 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

University segregation guidance – manifesting, not imposing, beliefs – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘Controversy has been sparked by the guidance issued by Universities UK entitled External speakers in higher education institutions on the question of gender segregation in university talks.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 13th December 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Contempt of court – controversial reforms seek to secure fair trials and freedom of speech – Legal Week

‘The Law Commission has produced its eagerly awaited report on juror misconduct and internet publications, following extensive consultation. The Commission had been urgently tasked with considering reform in this area, following a number of high-profile contempt cases involving errant jurors and eager publishers.’

Full story

Legal Week, 10th December 2013

Source: www.legalweek.com

Mass Surveillance and Freedom of the Press: A Conversation with Glenn Greenwald – UCL

‘Last June, Glenn Greenwald broke the story of the mass surveillance government programs disclosed in the leaks by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. In August Mr. Greenwald’s partner, David Miranda, was detained by police at Heathrow Airport for 9 hours under schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000. Mr. Greenwald has continued to release and comment on similar leaks since then and recently announced his departure from the Guardian to launch a new journalism venture with eBay co-founder Pierre Omidyar.

Our moderator led a conversation with Mr. Greenwald via Skype on the range of legal and political questions raised by his recent efforts. These include the lack of safeguards on government surveillance programs, the individual’s right to privacy, the freedom of the press to publish such information and any alleged threats these exposures pose to national security.’

Video

UCL, November 2013

Source: www.ucl.ac.uk

Reforming the law on walking naked – a lanyard’s length between Convention rights and the English common law – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted December 11th, 2013 in freedom of expression, human rights, indecent exposure, news by sally

‘I can’t help but smile at the thought of the furore that would ensue if (or when) the European Court of Human Rights were to decide that we English are far too uptight and ought not to be offended by nudity.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 10th December 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Jurors who search web during cases could be jailed under new proposals – The Guardian

‘Jurors should face up to two years in prison if they search the internet for information about cases beyond what is revealed in court, the Law Commission has recommended.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Paying the price for speaking freely about FIFA – the Triesman libel proceedings – Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

‘The Court of Appeal will soon be delivering judgment in a high-profile clash between the head of Thailand’s football federation, Dato Worawi Makudi, and Lord Triesman, the former chairman of the FA, which raises an issue of high constitutional importance.’

Full story

Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 9th December 2013

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

When is an advert “political” for the purposes of a ban under the Communications Act? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 25th, 2013 in advertising, Christianity, freedom of expression, human rights, media, news by tracey

‘R (on the application of London Christian Radio Ltd & Christian Communications Partnerships) v Radio Advertising Clearance Centre (Respondent) & Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Interested Party) [2013] EWCA Civ 1495.The ban on Christian Radio’s proposed advert seeking data on the “marginalisation of Christians” in the workplace was lawful and did not constitute an interference with free speech, the Court of Appeal has ruled. When determining whether a radio or television advertisement was “political” fur the purposes of Section 321(2)(b) of the Communications Act 2003 the court should consider the text objectively; the motives of the advertiser were irrelevant.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 21st November 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Regina (London Christian Radio Ltd and another) v Radio Advertising Clearance Centre – WLR Daily

Posted November 25th, 2013 in advertising, Christianity, freedom of expression, law reports, media by tracey

Regina (London Christian Radio Ltd and another) v Radio Advertising Clearance Centre:[2013] EWCA Civ 1495;   [2013] WLR (D)  445

‘The words “an advertisement which is directed towards a political end”, in section 321(2)(b) of the Communications Act 2003, invited attention to the subject-matter of the advertisement, and not the motives and intentions of the advertiser unless those intentions were expressed or were implicit in the language of the advertisement itself. An objective examination of the text of the advertisement alone was required, and the word “political” should not be given a narrow and artificially restrictive interpretation given the wide scope of the examples provided in section 321(3).’

WLR Daily, 19th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Defamation law reforms to take effect from the start of 2014 – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 21st, 2013 in defamation, defences, freedom of expression, legislation, news, publishing, regulations by sally

“Changes to UK defamation laws will come into force on 1 January 2014, the Justice Minister has announced.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th November 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Dress Codes And Discrimination Claims – No. 5 Chambers

“Dress codes in the workplace are not uncommon. Most Employers have a certain standard of dress in the workplace, whether enforced through contractual terms or through customary practices. More recently, we have seen informal advice given by senior solicitors to new female recruits at Berwin Leighton. The advice was addressed specifically at women.”

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 7th November 2013

Source: www.no5.com

High Court allows eviction of fracking protestors, but council must find “appropriate” alternative space – OUT-LAW.com

“The High Court has granted a possession order to West Sussex County Council, allowing it to remove anti-fracking protestors from where they have camped alongside a busy main road.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 14th November 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Protester cleared of threatening behaviour for calling Hove MP ‘a coward’ – The Independent

Posted November 14th, 2013 in demonstrations, freedom of expression, news, threatening behaviour, universities by tracey

“A Judge has ruled that a protester who called Conservative MP Mike Weatherley ‘a coward’ was not guilty of breaking the law.”

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The Independent, 13th November 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Miranda, Prisoner Votes & Judicial Review Myths – The Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

“This week, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill took evidence , and there were notable comments from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the body which monitors compliance with the European Court of Human Rights. Meanwhile, Baroness Hale weighed in on the proposed judicial review changes and, continuing along the judicial review vein, David Miranda (pictured) began his claim on Wednesday.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 11th November 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com