# New Press Law in the UK

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-press-law-in-the-uk/672740>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [October 31, 2013, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-press-law-in-the-uk/672740 "2013-10-31T11:42:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-press-law-in-the-uk/672740/61 "2013-11-02T02:40:18Z")

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> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> The warning given by one poster about doing this provides an interesting example of the chilling effect such anti-free speech actions have, even if people are overreacting.
> 
> Threads like this (and others appearing on the Dope highlighting speech/press restrictions in places like Germany, Italy and Australia), serve as eye-openers to Americans who may take their own freedoms for granted.

But that’s the point I was trying to make - the poster in question was being melodramatic and , while I certainly prefer the US approach to freedom of speech, no British posters are actually in any danger and there’s nothing “chilling” about it.

You can’t say stuff that might prejudice the outcome of a trial, under some circumstances. But sub judice rules are actually quite limited, and there’s no reason at all why British posters should refrain from discussing their opinions of this new law. None at all.

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**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-press-law-in-the-uk/672740/62 "2013-11-02T02:46:13Z")

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I’m sure a lot of people in Sweden are grumbling, “pussies! When we convict our reporters of libel we send them to jail!”

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-press-law-in-the-uk/672740/63 "2013-11-02T08:40:33Z")

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> [@Quartz](#):
>
> Contempt of court is not a trivial matter.

A British court could sentence a random British citizen for discussing the case on a random message board?

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-press-law-in-the-uk/672740/64 "2013-11-02T08:55:00Z")

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> [@clairobscur](#):
>
> A British court could sentence a random British citizen for discussing the case on a random message board?

OK. Question answered by later posts.

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