header-logo header-logo

Fake news is not new

28 October 2022 / Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC
Issue: 8000 / Categories: Opinion , Human rights , Libel
printer mail-detail
99029
For centuries, the judiciary has remained one of the only checks against blatant attempts to mislead, says Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC

Opportunities for spreading lies and offensive claims and allegations have been vastly expanded by social media. There is growing pressure, highlighted by tragic cases of self-harm by vulnerable people, for the rapid enactment of the Online Safety Bill. The main aim of the Bill is to encourage the companies which, in the government’s words, ‘host user-generated content online, ie those which allow users to post their own content online or interact with each other’ to monitor and remove illegal content and to protect children from ‘harmful and inappropriate content such as that showing pornography or violence’. This is to be supervised by Ofcom which will issue Codes of Practice and will have enforcement powers to secure compliance with information requests.

The Bill in its present form runs to 230 pages and reflects the government’s commendable wish to walk the tightrope of limiting harm while avoiding restrictions on

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Firm strengthens leveraged finance team with London partner hire

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

NEWS
Bea Rossetto of the National Pro Bono Centre makes the case for ‘General Practice Pro Bono’—using core legal skills to deliver life-changing support, without the need for niche expertise—in this week's NLJ
Small law firms want to embrace technology but feel lost in a maze of jargon, costs and compliance fears, writes Aisling O’Connell of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in this week's NLJ
Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Rylatt and Robyn Laye of Anthony Gold Solicitors examine recent international relocation cases where allegations of domestic abuse shaped outcomes
Charlie Mercer and Astrid Gillam of Stewarts crunch the numbers on civil fraud claims in the English courts, in this week's NLJ. New data shows civil fraud claims rising steadily since 2014, with the King’s Bench Division overtaking the Commercial Court as the forum of choice for lower-value disputes
Artificial intelligence may be revolutionising the law, but its misuse could wreck cases and careers, warns Clare Arthurs of Penningtons Manches Cooper in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll