Libel reform in the UK: telling the truth won't be illegal any longer?

Cory Doctorow 8:07 am Tue Mar 15, 2011

At long last, the British government has introduced a libel reform bill that seeks to end "libel tourism" (dragging people into UK courts for cases that have little or no connection to the UK) and will allow the truth to be a defense against a charge of libel (amazingly, this has not been the case until now). I haven't read the bill yet, but the Guardian's summary of the proposal makes it sound very good:

Clarke, unveiling the draft bill on Tuesday alongside minister of state for justice Lord McNally, said the bill would "ensure that anyone who makes a statement of fact or expresses an honest opinion can do so with confidence".

"The right to speak freely and debate issues without fear of censure is a vital cornerstone of a democratic society," he added.

"In recent years, though, the increased threat of costly libel actions has begun to have a chilling effect on scientific and academic debate and investigative journalism."

The bill includes a new statutory defence of truth which will replace the current common law defence of justification. It also includes a statutory defence of honest opinion replacing the current common law defence of fair and honest comment.

Government unveils libel law reforms

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