Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards 2011: London, 24 March
PAST EVENT: Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards 2011
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CATEGORY: United Kingdom
So you think we’ve got free speech in Britain? Think again
Nobody sensible wants to abolish libel law, to allow a free-for-all in which reputations are impugned without a right to redress. It’s about balance and proportion, says
John Kampfner
Due process, prejudice and the press
Contempt of court laws have always been toothless, but the Internet and the smartphone have made it clear they are not fit for purpose, as demonstrated in the current “monstering” of murder suspect Chris Jefferies, says Brian Cathcart
The blame game
Journalist Shiv Malik was injured by a police baton strike during last week’s student protests. He asks who should be blamed for the violence: protesters, police officers or politicians?
Paul Chambers to appeal Twitter joke verdict in High Court
Trainee accountant found guilty of sending “menacing” messages over Twitter, is to attempt to appeal his conviction before the High Court
Facebook, Yahoo!, AOL, Mumsnet and the ISPA to David Cameron: libel reform needed to protect free speech online
Facebook, Yahoo!, AOL (UK), Mumsnet and the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) have written an open letter to the Prime Minister David Cameron calling for urgent reform of our libel laws.
Alphabet soup spells “Donald”
Take that star Howard Donald has seen a super-injunction against an ex-girlfriend lifted. Is this another nail in the coffin for these restrictive measures, asks Mark Lewis
Google escapes fine for privacy breach
Google and the Information Commissioner’s Office have displayed contempt for privacy — and free speech will suffer as a result, says Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch
Read as-it-happened coverage of our Wikileaks event here
Liveblogging and video coverage of Index on Censorship’s debate featuring Julian Assange, David Aaronovitch and Jonathan Dimbleby
Papal bull?
English PEN director Jonathan Heawood is looking forward to hearing what Pope Benedict XVI has to say on his visit to Britain