New Zealand media regulation reforms – Steven Price

New Zealand has been looking at new proposals for media regulation which address the digital revolution … Unlike Australia and the UK, the NZ Law Commission’s media reform plans have met with minimal resistance … Barrister Steven Price investigates

Defamation and Satire – Steven Price

Memo to anyone thinking of suing or threatening someone else for defamation after that person made fun of them. Don’t.

It’s not that the law clearly protects humorous speech and satire. That question is a bit vexed. It’s defamatory to say something that brings another person into ridicule. So it looks like that is fairly easily satisfied. Actually, those looks are deceptive.

New Zealand: Earthquake Commission v Unknown Defendants, Interim injunction against EQC blogger – Steven Price

I feel as if I write this same thing about once every year. Someone rushes to court to get an injunction preventing the release of information. It’s based on breach of confidence. Here it’s the Earthquake Commission seeking to prevent the release of a database containing assessments about 83,000 Christchurch claims.

News: New Zealand Law Commission releases report “The News Media meets ‘New Media’”

The New Zealand Law Commission has today released its report “ “The News Media Meets New Media: Rights, Responsibilities and Regulation in the Digital Age.”   The report recommends the establishment of a “News Media Standards Authority” (NMSA) to provide a one-stop shop for adjudicating complaints against all news media.  Membership would be voluntary but would bring significant benefits.

Case Law, New Zealand, C v Holland, Court recognises “intrusion on seclusion” privacy tort – Hugh Tomlinson QC

In the case of C v Holland ([2012] NZHC 2155), the New Zealand High Court has recognised, for the first time, the existence of a “privacy intrusion” tort – in a claim arising out the surreptitious filming of the plaintiff in the shower.  The law of New Zealand had previously only recognised a privacy tort arising out of the publication of private information.

New Zealand Law Commission: Ministerial Briefing on Harmful Digital Communications

In May 2012, in response to rising concerns about the impact of cyber-bullying on young people, the responsible Minister asked the New Zealand Law Commission to fast-track the part of the project dealing with the adequacy of the sanctions and remedies for dealing with harmful digital communications.  On 15 August 2012 the Law Commission set out its final recommendations a Ministerial Briefing Paper, Harmful Digital Communications:  The adequacy of the current sanctions and remedies [pdf].  This was accompanied by a draft bill [pdf].

A heroic – but slightly defective – plan to save the online world – Steven Price

There are times in the life of a mild-mannered reporter (and barrister and blogger) when he must shuck off his civilian garb, don his cape, and save the world. This is one of those times.

There are evil people online. They bully, they defame, they harass, they intimidate, they denigrate, they post naked pictures of their ex on Facebook. Their innocent victims must be protected.

News Media and “New Media” – New Zealand Law Commission Consultation on Regulation

The Law Commission of New Zealand is undertaking a review of the current regulatory regime for news media with respect to its adequacy in catering for new and emerging forms of news media – sometimes referred to as the “new media”.  It published a comprehensive “Issues Paper” [Word] for consultation on 12 December 2011.  Responses are required by 12 March 2012 and can be made online.