Lord Justice Leveson’s big internet problem

June 8th, 2012

The inquiry into UK press standards does not seem to understand how to deal with the web, says
Marta Cooper

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UK: Spectator fined after admitting reporting breach

June 7th, 2012

The Spectator has been ordered to pay £5,600 after admitting a November 2011 article about the trial of Stephen Lawrence‘s killers breached a court order. Associate editor Rod Liddle’s piece claimed defendants Gary Dobson and David Norris — who were convicted in January 2012 of Lawrence’s 1993 murder — would not get a fair trial. It appeared in the magazine after the trial had started and an order imposed on reports that could influence the jury’s view of the defendants. The judge said the article caused a brief moment in which the trial was in jeopardy, but the magazine’s swift apology and removal of the piece online meant it was not undermined. The magazine’s lawyer apologised for its “bitterly regrettable” failure to make checks.

Malawi repeals news censorship law

June 1st, 2012

A vote in the Malawi Parliament has led to the repeal of an amendment to the country’s penal code which banned any news “not in the public interest”. Though amendment to Article 46 of the penal code was introduced in 2010, and was passed last year, it was never implemented after challenges from press freedom groups. The sweeping amendment would have allowed the government to ban anything deemed not to be in the public interest for an unspecified amount of time. Only one member of parliament voted against the repeal.

Hungary: airbrushing row highlights media law failings

December 13th, 2011

Activists are on hunger strike to protest against manipulation of TV images. Thomas Escritt reports
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EU to enshrine “right to be forgotten”

March 17th, 2011

The EU has announced its intention to ensure that social networking sites such as Facebook routinely offer high standards of privacy. They will recognise the existence of a “right to be forgotten online”. EU justice commissioner, Viviane Reding, has said that she wants to “explicitly clarify that people shall have the right – and not only the possibility — to withdraw their consent to data processing.”

Tens of thousands protest Hungarian media law

March 17th, 2011

Demonstrators gathered in Budapest on Tuesday to protest Hungary’s controversial media law, in what has been described as the biggest demonstration since the regime change in 1989. Chief organiser, Anna Vamos, said amendments to the media law do not align with EU law. Protesters also condemned provisions allowing the imposition of arbitrary levy fines on media outlets.

Changes to Hungarian media law adopted

March 9th, 2011

The agreed changes to Hungary’s controversial media law were adopted on Monday.  These alterations were welcomed by the Hungarian media, but have been subsequently dismissed as merely “cosmetic” by critics. Several of the more controversial provisions have been changed, for example the “balanced reporting” requirement, which no longer applies to blogs. No changes have been made to the Media Council, created in December 2010.

Slovak politicians lose right of reply

March 3rd, 2011

The Slovak government has made alterations to a controversial media law which guaranteed politicians, readers and state institutions a right of reply. This was allowed even where allegations made about them were true, but Prime Minister Iveta Radicova, an opposition legislator, announced on Wednesday that politicians would lose this right.