26 Jul 2012 | Uncategorized
An appeal decision in the Twitter Joke Trial is to be handed down by Lord Chief Justice at the Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow morning [27 July].
Last month Paul Chambers appealed his conviction for having jokingly tweeted in January 2010 that he would blow Nottingham’s Robin Hood airport “sky high” if his planned flight to Northern Ireland to visit his now-fiancee would be affected by the weather.
He was found guilty at Doncaster magistrates court of sending a message via public electronic communications that was “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, contrary to the Communications Act 2003”. Chambers was fined £385, and ordered to pay £600 in costs. He also lost his job.
The trial has become a landmark case for freedom of expression in the UK, highlighting the tension between the legal system and advances in social communication. Chambers has had the support of some leading British comedians, including Graham Linehan, Stephen Fry and Al Murray.
Writing for Index on Censorship in November 2010, comedy writer Graham Linehan said:
This is the kind of case that would make me refuse jury service. It obliterates my confidence in the judicial system. Why should I let people who don’t “get it” have any power over me or anyone else?
We’re trying to evolve here, and the people who don’t get it are slowing us down. If they can’t keep up, they need to get out of the way.
Comedian and broadcaster Paul Sinha added:
The irony is that all over the worldwide web, anonymous internet warriors are only to happy to incite hatred and murder, and surely this is where the appropriate resources should be directed.
David Allen Green provides some useful background to the two-and-a-half year saga here.
Follow the story on Twitter using the hashtag #TwitterJokeTrial
25 Jul 2012 | News and features, United Kingdom
The Defamation Bill is an achievement, but more must be done to reform England’s libel laws and encourage debate in the public interest, says Rachel Ehrenfeld
(more…)
25 Jul 2012 | Index Reports, Leveson Inquiry, Media Freedom
The report of the Leveson Inquiry this autumn is likely to represent a watershed moment for the press and for press freedom in the UK. Its findings and its recommendations on a new system of press regulation, if taken up by the government, will have a major impact on journalism and free expression in Britain and beyond for years to come.
Since last November, the hearings have laid bare the operations of the UK press. In the wake of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, unethical and illegal behaviour in the print media sector and intrusions into individuals’ privacy have rightly come under intense scrutiny. At the same time, the Inquiry and its hearings have opened up a wider discussion about how to protect freedom of expression and the ability of high quality and investigative journalism to hold government and other powerful bodies and individuals to account without allowing shoddy and dishonest journalism to operate with impunity.
The relationship between the press, politicians, officials and the police have also come under the spotlight, challenging the behaviour – and cronyism – of a number of journalists, politicians and police.
In this note, Index on Censorship sets out some key challenges that must be addressed if the approaching watershed moment for the British press is to be a positive one and if it is to set a standard that can impact constructively internationally too.
The full paper can be read in a PDF format.
25 Jul 2012 | Uncategorized
We really don’t want to go on about this…no, actually, lets.
After the Twitter censorship, the links policy fiasco, and the Box Hill newsletter ban, the organisers of the London Olympics have turned their attention to an east London newsagent who sought to celebrate the Olympics with bunting on his shop.
According to the Hackney Citizen, Hamdy Shahein, who runs Hamdy’s News in Stoke Newington, London, was visited by council enforcement officers on Saturday and told he had to remove his Olympic-themed bunting. It was reported that the Trading Standards Officers were even backed up by a police van!
Hamdy, who is popular and renowned in the neighbourhood for his refusal to stock porn magazines, was said to be shocked by the incident, particularly as he had paid for official bunting, so could not see how he could be in breach of any law.
Where will the Olympic copyright curse strike next? Tweet us @indexcensorship if you wake up to find yourself on the wrong side of LOCOG.
