Defending the Law Commission again
Friday, September 7th, 2012The NZ Herald’s Chris Barton takes a swipe at the Law Commission’s proposals to create a communications tribunal and a new criminal offence of using a communications device to send grossly offensive material designed to harm someone. I think the way he makes his criticisms is a bit unfair. He says the Commission’s new offence […]
Gobsmacked
Wednesday, September 5th, 2012Episode two in my exasperated campaign to let people take notes in court (Episode one is here). I understand that yesterday a Court of Appeal judge stopped someone from taking notes in the public gallery during the hearing of Greenpeace’s argument that it should be given charitable status. No information in the argument was sensitive or […]
Forum on the Law Commission’s proposals
Wednesday, September 5th, 2012Internet NZ is running a forum to debate the Law Commission’s proposals, and particularly the possible establishment of a Communications Tribunal. It’s to be in Wellington (17 September, Wellington Town Hall, 1-5pm) and Auckland (18 September, Aotea Centre, 1-5pm) . All are welcome, but you need to RSVP. Details here (including a link to the […]
Critiquing the Law Commission
Sunday, September 2nd, 2012A few days ago I sallied forth to defend the Law Commission’s proposal to establish a communications tribunal for digital harms against its critics. Today, I join their ranks. A little bit. But first, let’s be clear about what the Law Commission is expecting from its plan. It will not be a panacea. It will not […]
The wrong side of history
Thursday, August 30th, 2012Shane Ardern (N); Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (N); David Bennett (N); Chester Borrows (N); Simon Bridges (N); Bill English (N); Christopher Finlayson (N); Nathan Guy (N); John Hayes (N); Phil Heatley (N)); Brendan Horan (NZF); Colin King (N); Melissa Lee (N); Asenati Lole-Taylor (NZF); Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga (N); Tim Macindoe (N); Tracey Martin (NZF); Todd McClay […]
Defending the Law Commission
Wednesday, August 29th, 2012The Law Commission’s brainchild is being bullied online. It has recommended the creation of a tribunal to hear claims of digital harrassment, privacy invasion, intimidation, bullying and defamation. Not surprisingly, perhaps, it’s now being attacked by netizens as a terrible threat to free speech. Also not surprisingly, many of these people do not seem to […]
Inquiring minds want to know
Sunday, August 26th, 2012Do we have to rename the Beast of Blenheim the Beast of Whanganui?
Lawsuit for intrusion allowed in NZ
Sunday, August 26th, 2012At a time when the British tabloids are wringing their hands over whether to publish naked photos of Prince Harry, the High Court in NZ has ruled that the mere taking of such photos, whether or not they are published, is an actionable breach of privacy. The case involved a woman who was filmed naked […]
Kiwi Rail injunction lifted
Sunday, August 26th, 2012They say they had nothing to hide and just wanted to protect free and frank discussion. Clearly, they had nothing to hide except for the things they didn’t want the public to know they were discussing. The lifting of the injunction rather calls into question the wisdom of spending public money taking out the interim […]
Railing against illegal disclosure
Friday, August 24th, 2012On late Wednesday night, Kiwi Rail obtained an injunction stopping Radio NZ publishing copies of a leaked draft plan about its infrastructure and engineering. The next day (after distributing a press release about the injunction, I’m told) Labour MP Phil Twyford used parts of the draft plan to ask questions of government minister Gerry Brownlee. […]
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