A message from Simon Singh: The Mass Libel Reform Blog - Fight for Free Speech!

Libel-fighting science writer Simon Singh writes,

This week is the first anniversary of the report Free Speech is Not for Sale, which highlighted the oppressive nature of English libel law. In short, the law is extremely hostile to writers, while being unreasonably friendly towards powerful corporations and individuals who want to silence critics.
The English libel law is particular dangerous for bloggers, who are generally not backed by publishers, and who can end up being sued in London regardless of where the blog was posted. The internet allows bloggers to reach a global audience, but it also allows the High Court in London to have a global reach.
You can read more about the peculiar and grossly unfair nature of English libel law at the website of the Libel Reform Campaign. You will see that the campaign is not calling for the removal of libel law, but for a libel law that is fair and which would allow writers a reasonable opportunity to express their opinion and then defend it.
The good news is that the British Government has made a commitment to draft a bill that will reform libel, but it is essential that bloggers and their readers send a strong signal to politicians so that they follow through on this promise. You can do this by joining me and over 50,000 others who have signed the libel reform petition.
Remember, you can sign the petition whatever your nationality and wherever you live. Indeed, signatories from overseas remind British politicians that the English libel law is out of step with the rest of the free world.
If you have already signed the petition, then please encourage friends, family and colleagues to sign up. Moreover, if you have your own blog, you can join hundreds of other bloggers by posting this blog on your own site. There is a real chance that bloggers could help change the most censorious libel law in the democratic world.
We must speak out to defend free speech. Please sign the petition for libel reform!

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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Anonymous

It isn’t clear in the article if this is a law that impacts all of the UK, Britain or just England. If it just affects England I’d be curious to know what the impact has been on Scottish and Welsh media.
Anonymous

We have the same ridiculous laws in Canada. A fancy pants lawyer can keep a writer/publishing in pre-court for years anytime a client is written about.
Anonymous

We have the same in Thailand. Corrupt politicians and civil servants can sue journalists for millions and billions to practically destroy them and instill fear into others. Same in Singapore, I believe. While the case is pending in court (which take years), it is forbidden to discuss the nature of the case in public so as not to prejudice the process. So, suffer in silence, journalists. It is quite obvious why this type of law in still in the book in many places, especially in repressive regimes.
AnthonyC

I’ve heard mention of British libel laws before. Is it really that bad?

Truth should always be an absolute defense against libel, and the burden should be on a claimant to prove both harm and malicious intent.