08 Sep 10 | Index Index, minipost
Cases involving privacy arguments have risen by 54 per cent in the last year, according to figures released by legal publishers Sweet & Maxwell. Their report revealed that privacy cases were up from 28 in 2009 to 43 in the last twelve months. Of the 43 cases reported, 22 were brought against the public sector, making up 51% of all privacy cases. The number of cases brought by high-profile individuals has also increased, almost trebling from 2008-09 to 2009-10. Recent examples include Matt Lucas, Colin Montgomerie, and three injunctions from England footballers.
03 Sep 10 | Index Index, minipost
Senators in Ohio have introduced a bill which would force media organisations to remove stories about former convicts from the Internet. The new law would allow non-violent criminals with multiple convictions to have records of their offenses sealed by the courts after five years of clean conduct. Individuals and private businesses, including the media, would then be obliged to delete references to those arrests and convictions. Violation of the bill could be punished by fines of up to $1m. Currently, only first-time offenders can have their criminal records expunged. The bill is expected to be passed later this year.
27 Aug 10 | Index Index, minipost
Little Britain actor Matt Lucas is taking legal action against the Daily Mail over a story that he claims breached his privacy. Entitled How Matt Lucas learned to laugh again, the article detailed how the actor was affected by the suicide of his former civil partner, Kevin McGee. Lucas said the story that appeared in March was “a very serious invasion of privacy” and an “intrusion into grief”. He claims the article included false information, such as the suggestion that he blamed himself for McGee’s death.
27 Aug 10 | Index Index, minipost
The Constitutional Court has declared Uganda’s law on sedition null and void. Journalists will no longer be legally prevented from criticising President Yoweri Museveni or his government. A panel of five judges ruled on 25 August that the law violated the public’s right to free speech, which is guaranteed in Uganda’s constitution. The executive secretary of the Media Council of Uganda Haruna Kanaabi said that the law has often been used as a way of silencing dissent, particularly ahead of next year’s general elections. The government has announced that it will be appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision.
