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Month: June 2017


17.06.17

UEA in student data leak

The University of East Anglia (UEA) has admitted accidentally sending an email containing students’ highly sensitive personal information to 298 American Studies undergraduates.  The email in question attached a spreadsheet which contained “extenuating circumstances” justifying extensions for work and other academic concessions.  These are understood to include details of illnesses, bereavements and other personal matters….

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11.06.17

Defamation cases: Number of defamation claims issued at a record low

The Ministry of Justice has published annual statistics which further suggest that London’s reputation as the ‘libel capital of the world’ might be undeserved.  The 2016 figures show that only 112 claims were issued in the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) in London (all defamation claims must be issued in the High Court; the vast…

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Justice ‘on the cheap’ could land solicitors in the dock

In April 2017, many hundreds of criminal legal aid practitioners signed up to the new Crime Legal Aid Contract. On 1 June 2017, a Law Society Practice Note clarified that these firms may refuse any contract work (save for duty solicitor matters) if taking it on would threaten the viability of the firm, or is…

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Revenge porn on Facebook

Last month, The Guardian disclosed that Facebook had to assess nearly 54,000 potential cases of revenge porn and “sextortion” on the site in a single month. Facebook defines revenge porn as attempts to use intimate imagery to shame, humiliate or gain revenge against an individual.  The significant number of cases reported to Facebook is no…

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The rise of fake news

In 2016, 82% of adults in the UK used the internet on a daily basis compared with just 35% in 2006. Smartphones and mobile devices are the most popular tools for adults to access the internet with 71% accessing through smartphones. Using the internet for social networking on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and…

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Breach of privacy: BBC ordered to disclose information about Sir Cliff Police source

Although he has settled his claim against South Yorkshire Police (see our blog here), Sir Cliff Richard’s privacy and data protection claims against the BBC arising from the broadcaster’s coverage of the 2014 police raid of his home, continue in earnest. Sir Cliff contends that the BBC’s Dan Johnson found out about the police investigation…

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Breach of privacy: Sir Cliff Richard settles claim against South Yorkshire Police

Following a high-profile, televised police raid on his Berkshire home in 2014, Sir Cliff Richard issued claims against the BBC and South Yorkshire Police for the misuse of his private information, infringement of his Article 8 ECHR right to a private life, and breach of the Data Protection Act 1998. In a recent hearing before…

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Serious Fraud Office under threat of closure

The Prime Minister has pledged to scrap the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in her party’s manifesto.  This is a revival of her plans first disclosed in 2011 when she was Home Secretary but was forced to withdraw in 2014 following pressure from fellow Cabinet ministers, the former attorney-general Dominic Grieve and former justice secretary Ken…

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Legal Disclaimer

Articles are intended as an introduction to the topic and do not constitute legal advice.