With the increasing rate of libel litigation in England, it is considered that the time has come to make alterations in the old libel laws of the country. Several protests have been launched in the country for reforming the libel law of the country which not only prevents people to speak freely but also prevents scientific inquiry in the country. English PEN and Index also consider the existing libel laws to be outdated. They have stated that the wealthy foreigners use this law to “to bully people who try to hold them to account.” A report regarding the libel law states that this law, “imposes unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on free speech, sending a chilling effect through the publishing and journalism sectors in the UK.” Index’s chief executive, John Kampfner, has stated that the old law not only causes hindrance to the work of media professionals but also causes problem for researchers, NGOs as well as other organizations.
The report against the libel law stated that the M.P.s need to understand the problem that people are facing for this libel law. As strong protests are made against the libel laws of the country, the Ministry of Justice said that they would take up the case with careful considerations. It is expected that they would consider each section of the existing libel law carefully and make the necessary changes so that people do not find it to be outdated. Index and English PEN in their reports against the libel law of the United Kingdom have marked ten points that should be altered to save people from facing legal suits. It has been stated by the sources, that one of the changes demanded that the clause in the libel law that demands defendants to prove their innocence should be altered. The report also demanded some other changes in the law. They demanded a limit on the penalty that a person can charge from someone charged in a libel case.
Not only the Index and English PEN have protested against the libel law but also several newspapers of the country believe the same. They consider that the libel law is misused by the rich people to harass others. Some has also called the London to be a ‘libel capital’. Reports of one of the leading newspaper stated that the libel law and the process of arguing a libel case should be changed, Carter Ruck, a reputed law firm said that the cost related to the libel cases should be reduced. They have also stated that the cost related to libel cases are so high that many people prefer to settle the case rather than taking the case to the court of law.
London is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the world and attracts several tourists every year. Experts consider that the old and outdated libel law is affecting the country in different ways. It has been stated that the effects of the libel laws have reached the world and it is high time to get it changed.
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