Prominent Georgian journalist and politician Nika Gvaramia brings complaint to the ECtHR
In October 2023, Media Defence filed Nika Gvaramia’s case at the European Court of Human Rights, challenging his unlawful detention and the denial of his right to a fair trial. Background In May 2022, Nika Gvaramia, a prominent and award-winning Georgian journalist and leading opposition politician, was convicted of abuse of power and sentenced to […]
ECOWAS Court condemns internet shutdown in Guinea
The ECOWAS Court has issued its decision following an application by the lawyers for the applicants; Association Des Blogueurs De Guinee (ABLOGUI), Association Villageois 2.0, Ligue Guineenne Des Droits De L’Homme and Centre Africain De Formation et D’Information Sur Les Droits Humains et L’Environment for judgment in default of defence. The case was filed at […]
UKSC hears case on malicious falsehood claims with implications for press freedom
The UK Supreme Court has heard argument over two days in the case of George v Cannell and another. The question the Court has to decide is – What does a claimant need to demonstrate to rely on s3(1) of the Defamation Act 1952 in a claim for malicious falsehood? The Facts The respondent sued the […]
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 […]
European Court of Human Rights issues judgment in Hurbain v Belgium, expanding the application of the ‘right to be forgotten’
On 4 July 2023, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) Grand Chamber delivered its judgment in the case of Hurbain v Belgium. The judgment upheld the lower chamber’s finding that an order to anonymise the subject of an article did not violate the publisher’s freedom of expression. Media Defence, along with a number of […]
European Court of Human Rights issues important judgment on the right to protest in Bryan and others v. Russia
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has today issued its decision in the case of Bryan and others v. Russia. The ECtHR found that Russia had violated the applicants’ rights to freedom of expression and to liberty and security by arresting and detaining them following the protest organised by Greenpeace activists on its Arctic […]
Santiago O’Donnell: A landmark judgment for the protection of sources
On 22 June, Santiago O’Donnell won his appeal before the Supreme Court in Argentina, defending his right not to surrender his source materials. The judgment is a landmark one, asserting that the decision to make public the content of interviews remains with the journalist, rather than the interviewee. The case Back in 2021, we began […]
ECtHR Grand Chamber decision in Sanchez v France raises serious concerns over online speech
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has handed down its judgment in Sanchez v France. Media Defence intervened with the Electronic Frontier Foundation in the case. The relevant events took place in 2011 and 2012. The applicant, a politician, was charged with the offence of incitement to hatred or violence following […]
Media Defence intervenes before Colombian Constitutional Court in a challenge to the law on criminal defamation
Media Defence has filed an intervention before the Constitutional Court of Colombia in a constitutional challenge to two provisions of the Colombian Penal Code. Under Articles 220 and 221 of the Penal Code, individuals accused of making “dishonourable accusations” can face up to four-and-a-half years in jail. Those accused of libel face up to six […]
Media Defence interviene ante la Corte Constitucional de Colombia en una impugnación a la ley de difamación penal
Media Defence ha presentado un escrito de amicus curiae ante la Corte Constitucional de Colombia en una demanda de inconstitucionalidad contra dos disposiciones del Código Penal colombiano. Según los artículos 220 y 221 del Código Penal, las personas acusadas de hacer “imputaciones deshonrosas” pueden enfrentarse a penas de hasta cuatro años y medio de cárcel, […]
Women’s History Month: Journalists who inspire us
Threats and violence against women journalists endanger important democratic values, including freedom of expression and the right to information. Despite significant risks, women continue to investigate abuses of power—and we applaud those who are laying the groundwork for a better future. Whether covering instability wrought by war or how corruption impacts local farmers, every journalist […]
European Court Grand Chamber finds conviction of whistle-blower in Luxleaks case breached his right to freedom of expression
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has held that the criminal conviction of Luxleaks whistle-blower Raphaël Halet in Luxembourg in 2016 was a violation of his article 10 right to freedom of expression. In doing so, the Grand Chamber has made some important observations about the vital role whistle-blowers increasingly […]