The case of Joanne Fraill, who faces jail for breaching jury rules by contacting a defendant through Facebook, is a reminder of the seriousness of the challenge to the British justice system posed by the internet. There is more at stake here than Tweeting about the private lives of celebrities. (more…)
According to News International the latest allegations in the phone hacking affair, made by Nick Davies in the Guardian and Labour MP Tom Watson in the Commons are “wholly inaccurate”. For four years the company told us much the same thing about similar allegations relating to private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, and it was wrong — so wrong that it is now ready to pay out compensation running into millions, while a police investigation is under way involving 45 officers. On balance, I know who I am inclined to believe. (more…)
A US-based billionaire is using English courts to force American online publishers to expose the identity of users. Judith Townend reports
The weekend brought a whole new level of absurdity to the current controversy over injunctions. Scotland’s Sunday Herald published the identity of the anonymous footballer (I won’t name him, but we all know who I’m talking about) alleged to have had an affair with former Miss Wales Imogen Thomas (I can name her, though many claim not to have heard of her before she was injuncted by the footballer everyone has heard of but cannot name). (more…)