Libel laws will be updated to bring them in line with the internet era.
The Ministry of Justice today kicked off a consultation on defamation and how the internet has changed the way publishing works. The current laws date from as far back as the 1840s which the MoJ claims is "long before the internet arrived."
For example, defamation law requires claims be made within a year of publishing, which might make sense for a newspaper where the copies will for the most part disappear, but is problematic with the web storing content for long into the future.
In addition, the government wants to look at what online publishing actually means - is it "republished" every time the page loads? Such a definition could affect the multiple publication aspect of defamation law, with each publication of the text in question potentially leading opening up a new libel claim.
"Existing defamation law needs to be updated so it is fit for the modern age, and it is important we listen to views on the best way to achieve this," said Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw, in a statement.
"Freedom to hold and express opinions is a right that is vital to democracy, as is respect for the rights and freedoms of others," he added. "How these principles are balanced in the fast-changing internet age is a fascinating debate."
The consultation is open until 16 December, with more details available here.
-
HPE and Nvidia launch first EU AI factory lab in FranceThe facility will let customers test and validate their sovereign AI factories
-
AWS CEO Matt Garman says AI agents will have 'as much impact on your business as the internet or cloud'News Garman told attendees at AWS re:Invent that AI agents represent a paradigm shift in the trajectory of AI and will finally unlock returns on investment for enterprises.
-
Google drops cloud complaint against MicrosoftNews Anticompetitive concerns aren't gone, but Google is leaving the battle to the EC instead
-
‘A major step forward’: Keir Starmer’s £187 million tech skills drive welcomed by UK industryNews The ‘TechFirst’ program aims to shore up the UK’s digital skills to meet future AI needs
-
Government’s ‘Humphrey’ AI tool helps local authorities cut costsNews The Minute tool, part of the Humphrey AI assistant, is being trialled at 25 councils
-
A decade-long ban on AI laws is a “terrible idea” for everyone but big tech, critics claimNews A proposed decade-long ban on US states implementing AI laws is a "terrible idea" that highlights the scale of big tech lobbying, according to critics.
-
Starmer bets big on AI to unlock public sector savingsNews AI adoption could be a major boon for the UK and save taxpayers billions, according to prime minister Keir Starmer.
-
UK government targets ‘startup’ mindset in AI funding overhaulNews Public sector AI funding will be overhauled in the UK in a bid to simplify processes and push more projects into development.
-
UK government signs up Anthropic to improve public servicesNews The UK government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Anthropic to explore how the company's Claude AI assistant could be used to improve access to public services.
-
The UK’s AI ambitions face one major hurdle – finding enough home-grown talentNews Research shows UK enterprises are struggling to fill AI roles, raising concerns over the country's ability to meet expectations in the global AI race.
