09 Jun 11 | Uncategorized
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…)
07 Jun 11 | Uncategorized
So is the British Board of Film Censors quite within the law when it comes to banning — or rather, not passing — Human Centipede 2 for release to dvd?
In the old days (pre-1984) this would have been a simple question of whether that film, or bits of it were “obscene” according to the Obscene Publications Act 1959. There are problems with that, though. Items are obscene (and therefore not to be published or distributed) if they “tend to deprave or corrupt”. (more…)
23 May 11 | Uncategorized
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…)
23 May 11 | Uncategorized
How’s your private life? Think about it. Is there anything potentially embarrassing there? Is there anything — maybe just one little thing about your sexual tastes or your internet habits or your relations with, or thoughts about, other people — that you would rather your partner didn’t know? Or the kids? Or your mother? Or the people at work? (more…)
