Canada: Activist charged with criminal defamation

September 14th, 2011

Ontario Provincial Police have charged an activist with two counts of defamatory libel for online comments he made regarding undercover police officers. Using fake names, Dan Kellar outed two officers who had infiltrated activist networks. Upon learning that one of them was spotted in Toronto, he put out a “community alert’’ on the website of an activist group he was involved with. Police claim the comments were likely to injure the reputation of the officers by exposing them to hatred, contempt or ridicule. Kellar says the charges are an attempt to stifle dissent. He will appear in court in Toronto on 20 September.

No charge in Ian Tomlinson death

July 22nd, 2010

The Crown Prosecution Service has said there is no charge to answer in the case of a newspaper vendor who died during G20 protests in London. Leah Borromeo disagrees
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The right to protest: Technology turns the camera on surveillance state

May 20th, 2009

In the first of a series of articles on protest and free speech, Guardian reporter Paul Lewis assesses the fallout from the death of Ian Tomlinson
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Securing the right to protest

April 16th, 2009

Controversy still rages over police handling of G20 protesters. As an inquiry into policing of demonstrations is launched, Liberty’s Bridget Beale looks at how a vital part of democracy can be safeguarded
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Media alerts in lead up to G20 demonstrations

March 27th, 2009

As UK citizens prepare to exercise their freedom of expression at demonstrations during the upcoming week of the G20 summit, the media continues to warn of imminent riots, while most protest groups assert that violence will not be used. (more…)