English PEN, a charity that promotes the human rights of writers and publishers, and Index on Censorship, a body that promotes freedom of expression, spent a year investigating English libel laws. Their joint report, Free Speech Is Not For Sale, was published today. They say that England’s libel law “was designed to serve the rich…
Privacy Case Flunks ‘Duck Test,’ Court Says
Annie Youderian reports: The 7th Circuit dismissed an invasion-of-privacy class action filed by Illinois citizens who submitted voter registration forms at the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The complaint flunks the “duck test,” Judge Terence Evans wrote, because the lead plaintiff “says, in effect, that if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck,…
UK: Recording call breaches trust but does not break law
A news story by Richard Edwards suggests that the UK does not have the kinds of laws we have here in the U.S. about recording telephone conversations without both parties’ knowledge and consent: Companies and public bodies responsible for private telephone systems are allowed to intercept calls for a wide range of purposes but must…
UK: Prison guard ‘sold Huntley data’
A prison officer stole secret documents on high-security prisoners – including child killer Ian Huntley – to sell to national newspapers, a court has heard. Paul Capewell, 41, who worked at HMP Frankland in Durham, is accused of smuggling out the information and passing it to his brother John. Newcastle Crown Court heard the thefts…