Open Tech Calendar

Learn about defamation and help reform Scots Law with Scottish PEN and Open Rights Group Scotland

Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg was 12 years old when defamation law was last reformed in Scotland. In the 23 year that have followed, the law has not kept pace with how we speak to others, seek out information and publish our work. But now we are closer than ever to achieving reform and having laws in Scotland that protects everyone who wants to speak up and speak out.

In January the Scottish Government launched a public consultation to reform the law but it is important that as many people as possible respond, showing to the government that reform is needed and the public back this move. The more people that take part, the harder it will be to ignore!

A Consult-a-thon is an interactive workshop for the participants to respond to a public consultation in the session. By the end of the event the goal is for every participant to have learnt about reform and the consultation, as well as contributing their voice to the reform process.

At The Melting Pot, Scottish PEN, in partnership with Open Rights Group Scotland, will bring together leading experts and people who have experienced threats of defamation action to explain why reform is necessary, explore what reform looks like and to share their experiences of the existing laws. Joining us will be:
- Rosalind McInnes, the Principle Solicitor of BBC Scotland and author of Scots Law for Journalist;
- Andy Wightman, Scottish Green Party MSP who is currently defending a £750,000 defamation action;
- Stephen Blythe, the Community Guardian for Automattic and Internet Law & Policy LLM Course Co-ordinator at the University of Strathclyde.

What is a Consult-a-thon?

A Consult-a-thon is an interactive workshop for the participants to respond to a public consultation in the session. Throughout the event, experts will be in place to guide participants through each stage of the consultation, answer questions and facilitate debate on how to best protect free expression across Scotland. By the end of the event the goal is for every participant to have learnt about reform and the consultation, as well as contributing their voice to the reform process.

So if free expression is important to you and you would like to take part in the consultation please join us on 26th March to help us make the case for meaningful reform in Scotland.