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Free Speech Is Not for Sale
The Impact of English Libel Law on Freedom of Expression
After a yearlong inquiry, English PEN and Index on Censorship have concluded that English libel law poses a threat to freedom of expression, both in the UK and around the world.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and should only be limited in special circumstances. Yet English libel law imposes unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on free speech, sending a chilling effect through the publishing and journalism sectors in the UK. This effect now reaches around the world, because of so-called "libel tourism", where foreign litigants take advantage of the peculiarities of English libel law to sue journalists or critics on grounds that would be thrown out of court in most other jurisdictions.
This report was made possible by a grant from the OSI Information Program.
Contents
- Terms of Reference
- Executive Summary
- Balancing Free Speech and Reputation
- Restoring the Balance
- Recommendations
- Appendix: Case Studies
- Acknowledgments
Download
Download the report from the Libel Reform Campaign's website.
