Media Defence Logo

CLOSE

Every little litigation helps

Every little litigation helps

During 2007 and early 2008 several journalists in Thailand expressed alarm at the rapid expansion in the country of Tesco-Lotus, a supermarket chain that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British firm Tesco. They said this expansion was driving small “mom and pop” stores out of business. In response, Tesco-Lotus brought a criminal defamation claim against one of the journalists, demanding US$25 million in damages, and a civil defamation claim against a second, for US$2.5 million. A third journalist who commented in respect of these cases that Tesco “did not love Thailand” was also sued, for US$2.5 million. The MLDI has pledged financial support to the three journalists and has been working with their lawyers on their defence. Tesco-Lotus lost the first case and settled the claim against the third, but it continues to pursue the second vigorously.

Recent News

Mamunur Rashid Nomani charged with violating Bangladesh’s Digital Security Act

Journalist Mamunur Rashid Nomani, editor of the local online news portal Barishal Khobor, has been charged with violating Bangladesh’s Digital Security Act (DSA), following an accusation claiming that he secretly filmed the mayor of Barisal and his family. Nomani rejects this, alleging instead that he and two of his acquaintances – Kamrul Mridha, working for […]

Read

Media Defence extends partnership with three organisations in sub-Saharan Africa

As part of Media Defence’s project Empowering Women in Digital Rights Advocacy, we are building a strong legal defence network in sub-Saharan Africa. To achieve this goal, we are providing financial assistance to organisations to establish legal aid units or media defence centres. We are excited to announce that, as part of this project, we are extending […]

Read

15 Years of Impact: Internet Shutdowns

This year marks Media Defence’s 15th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, we will be taking a look at the ways in which freedom of expression has been threatened around the world, and how we have sought to protect it. The internet has become an essential part of modern life. It has transformed the way we […]

Read