London, the host of the 2012 Olympics, has long since won the gold medal as the capital of “libel tourism”. I was made aware of this in 2004 when a libel suit was brought against me and my book Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed — and How to … [Read more...] about Free Speech Is Still A Pipe Dream For British Writers
Free Speech & Libel Tourism
Britain’s Half-Hearted Bid To Reform Libel Law
When my book “Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed — and How to Stop It ” was first published in New York in 2003, I never imagined that attempts to silence my work would emanate from London’s High Court rather than, say, Saudi Arabia. The book … [Read more...] about Britain’s Half-Hearted Bid To Reform Libel Law
Ad Site Crimes: Shutdown Isn’t The Solution
Natasha Curtis made four. All women. All found dead in car trunks in Detroit. Three of the four apparently advertised themselves as available for escort services on Backpage.com, a classified site owned by Village Voice Media. There is no debating … [Read more...] about Ad Site Crimes: Shutdown Isn’t The Solution
Free Speech Victory
On August 10, a major victory for freedom of speech was achieved. President Obama signed the Securing the Protection of our Enduring and Established Constitutional Heritage Act (SPEECH Act) into law, stopping Americans from being sued for libel by … [Read more...] about Free Speech Victory
Standing Up For Free Speech
NEW LAW DEFENDS U.S. JOURNALISTS FROM FOREIGN LIBEL LAWSUITS Earlier this summer, Congress unanimously passed a bill that protects investigative journalists from harassing lawsuits filed in foreign courts. Rather than trumpet this bipartisan … [Read more...] about Standing Up For Free Speech
Protecting American Free Speech
Although Washington is often mired in partisan political battles, there are some issues on which Democrats and Republicans in Congress can agree — and where they can work together in unison. One of these is our nation’s tradition of freedom of … [Read more...] about Protecting American Free Speech
Federal Law Opposing ‘Libel Tourism’ Approved By Congress
As the founder of the movement against libel tourism, I congratulate Congress for unanimously passing HR 2765 (as amended by the Leahy-Sessions ’Speech’ Act) on July 27th. A bipartisan bill, the ’Speech’ Act is based on New York State’s “Libel … [Read more...] about Federal Law Opposing ‘Libel Tourism’ Approved By Congress
Media On The Edge: Senate Moves Unanimously To Protect Free Speech
In a rare show of unanimity, the United States Senate approved legislation last week that would prevent the domestic enforcement of foreign libel judgments that do not meet American standards of due process and free speech protection. The Securing … [Read more...] about Media On The Edge: Senate Moves Unanimously To Protect Free Speech
Additional View To The Senate Judiciary Committee Senate Report 111-224, The Speech Act
VII. ADDITIONAL VIEWS ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF SENATOR KYL The complementary freedoms of speech and the press enshrined by our founding fathers in the First Amendment are cornerstones of American society. As Thomas Jefferson famously said, ‘‘Our liberty … [Read more...] about Additional View To The Senate Judiciary Committee Senate Report 111-224, The Speech Act
Floor Statement Immediately Following Vote Re: H.R. 2765
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today the Senate has passed important bipartisan legislation to reduce the chilling effect that foreign libel lawsuits are having on Americans’ first amendment rights. I am the son of printers and I consider this a matter … [Read more...] about Floor Statement Immediately Following Vote Re: H.R. 2765