Defamation laws "need to be updated"

Defamation laws in the UK "need to be updated", according to a leading politician.

Commenting on the issue, secretary of state for justice Jack Straw said that deciding how to balance the freedom to hold and express opinions with respect for the rights and freedoms of others is a "fascinating debate".

He has launched a consultation centred on how defamation laws function in the internet age.

It is targeted at anyone who published on the web, especially those who maintain online archives.

Mr Straw - who took up his current position in June 2007 - said: "Existing defamation law needs to be updated so it is fit for the modern age and it is important we listen to views on the best way to achieve this."

The aim of consultation is to ascertain how best to update defamation laws, some of which date back to the 1840s, long before the internet was established.
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18/09/2009 09:53

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