The Wardman Wire

Today I am publishing another interview about potential changes to the libel law framework in the UK following on from the Alisher Usmanov case.

This is taken, with permission, from Matt Revell’s Wolverhampton Politics Podcast, and is with Mr Eugenides - who has written very clearly about the controversy. It is about 20 minutes.

The section from his shownotes:

Alisher Usmanov’s solicitors have temporarily silenced the blog of Craig Murray, the UK’s former ambassador to Uzbekistan, along with those of Boris Johnson, Bob Piper and Tim Ireland’s Bloggerheads. Blogger Mr Eugenides chats about the importance of freedom of speech and how the UK’s libel laws work in favour of rich plaintiffs.

This interview moves the conversation on from the particular Alisher Usmanov controversy to the wider question about the imbalance in Britain’s laws around defamation. As the law stands, it is almost inevitable that an isp will pull the plug on a website rather than insist that the allegations be heard through due legal process - as they begin to share the potential liability the moment they are informed of the alleged defamation. This is crazy.

You can find the entire weekly one hour show on the Wolverhampton Politics Podcast website.

I’m going to keep tracking this story, because there is the potential that the Alisher Usmanov controversy may result in a cross-political spectrum coalition of website owners aiming to change the UK law to be more sensible.

Tags: alisher usmanov, schillings solicitors, libel law, mr eugenides, bloggerheads, law reform, takedown notice.[tags]alisher usmanov, schillings solicitors, libel law, mr eugenides, bloggerheads, law reform, takedown notice.[/tags]