Corporations should be open to uninhibited public scrutiny and criticism argues Julian Petley. To prevent legal intimidation, multinationals should be treated like public authorities and prevented from silencing their critics with libel threats
English PEN and Index on Censorship today welcome Jack Straw’s proposal to make dramatic cuts to lawyers’ win fees in defamation cases, but warn that fees are only one part of a libel system in need of serious reform.
Suggesting banning women from dressing how they please is deeply offensive says Jess McCabe
Judges decide section 44 violates claimant’s human rights but journalists and protesters are unlikely to see change on the ground says Leah Borromeo
The Home Secretary’s decision to ban an extremist group shows exactly why we must not allow sentiment to overrule free speech says Padraig Reidy
Popular west of England site The Bristol Blogger was temporarily removed by blogging platform Wordpress after it received a complaint from former University of the West of England vice-chancellor Howard newby. In a statement given to local radio...
Jack Straw has noticed the clamour for change. Reform of our unfair defamation laws must now become a manifesto pledge, says Padraig Reidy
The Ministry of Justice is to conduct a comprehensive review of England's defamation laws, which will be experted to report in mid-March, it was revealed today. The ministry's seemingly strong new commitment comes after over 10,000 people signed a...
Index on Censorship and English PEN today have expressed dismay that the BBC has conceded the libel action brought by toxic waste shippers Trafigura in the High Court
In 2009 the government, courts and the police have connived in the suppression of investigative journalism and scientific research. But campaigns for free expression are fighting back says
John Kampfner