A libel claim against The Sun over an article about Mel B. The High Court ruled that it accused him of harassment, not merely of being under investigation.
The case of Stephen Belafonte v News Group Newspapers Read More »
A married businessman blackmailed by someone inside his own circle. A without notice High Court injunction, both parties anonymised, served two hours before her deadline.
The case of PHJ v UJV Read More »
A British businessman who paid a sextortion gang more than $100,000. The injunction was prepared in advance and granted the day the next demand came.
The case of RXE v Daniel Ryan and others Read More »
The call came at four o’clock on a Friday afternoon in July, which is the hour at which most of London’s lawyers are thinking about the weekend. The man on the line was in New York and had not slept properly in weeks. He had until Monday. On Monday, unless he paid, the messages he
Dear America, Let me begin with a confession. I am a lawyer, and lawyers are the reason you have never read to the end of anything about internet regulation. We write as if the reader were another lawyer, or a judge, or a wall. I am going to try not to do that here, because
Dear America, Ofcom has sent you a bill Read More »
This is chapter 1 of Regulated Without Representation, a series by internet law solicitor Yair Cohen on how Britain regulates the internet and who pays for it. New here? Start with the introduction. Picture a telephone exchange in 1935. Rows of young women in headsets, a wall of sockets and cords, and a voice in
This is chapter 2 of Regulated Without Representation, a series by internet law solicitor Yair Cohen on how Britain regulates the internet and who pays for it. New here? Start with the introduction. The previous chapter is here. In the spring of 1765 the British Parliament had a problem that will sound familiar to any
This is chapter 3 of Regulated Without Representation, a series by internet law solicitor Yair Cohen on how Britain regulates the internet and who pays for it. New here? Start with the introduction. The previous chapter is here. On 14 April 2025 an email arrived at an American message board called 4chan. The sender was
The hamster, the judge and the regulator: 4chan v Ofcom explained Read More »
This is chapter 4 of Regulated Without Representation, a series by internet law solicitor Yair Cohen on how Britain regulates the internet and who pays for it. New here? Start with the introduction. The previous chapter is here. On the afternoon of 29 July 2024 a seventeen year old walked into a Taylor Swift themed
This is chapter 5 of Regulated Without Representation, a series by internet law solicitor Yair Cohen on how Britain regulates the internet and who pays for it. New here? Start with the introduction. The previous chapter is here. Imagine the White House announced tomorrow that Google, YouTube and TikTok must put CNN and NBC at
Who decides what you read? Britain’s plan to put a minister in your feed Read More »
This is chapter 6 of Regulated Without Representation, a series by internet law solicitor Yair Cohen on how Britain regulates the internet and who pays for it. New here? Start with the introduction. The previous chapter is here. Somewhere in Whitehall, the district of London where the government departments sit, there is a spreadsheet. On
When the Americans say no: how the Stamp Act ended, and how this might Read More »
A promise made live on ITV’s This Morning to find the catfish, kept in the High Court with an apology and damages.
The Sasha Davies Catfishing Case: A Promise Made Live on ITV, Kept in the High Court Read More »
How to make the internet safer without overloading it with government free‑speech brakes Last year, death threats made against Piers Morgan and his family, and the swift police response that followed, brought the issue of online abuse back into sharp focus. That case reminds us of the very real dangers that come with unchecked online
Keep free speech, stop online harassment Read More »
the pressure on UK police forces is relentless and growing. Over the past decade, forces have faced repeated funding cuts, coupled with rising population pressures driven by high levels of immigration
Acting for the Pimlico Plumbers founder when the Honours Forfeiture Committee moved to strip him of his OBE over social media posts, with no appeal and no reasons.
Saving your OBE award from forfeiture – the case of Charlie Mullins OBE Read More »
The first UK case in which a conspiracy theorist was made to shut down his YouTube channel for harassing a grieving family.
The case of Frankie Rzucek v Alan Vinnicombe Read More »
Being illegal immigrants means they have no passports and no identification documents, effectively erasing their existence in the eyes of the authorities. They are stripped of their private mobile phones and denied any free contact with the outside world, leaving them utterly isolated and under constant surveillance.
The Hidden Human Cost of Illegal Immigration and People Trafficking Read More »
Video: how the Sweet Bobby catfish kept her victim believing, for nearly ten years, that she was in a relationship with a real person.
Victim of catfishing was “driven crazy” by catfish Read More »
The solicitor’s account of the Sweet Bobby case: a decade of deception by more than fifty invented characters, and the fight for justice that followed.
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare – The Lawyer’s Perspective on a Decade of Deception Read More »
Mel B applied without notice for a restraining order against her former husband. The application was withdrawn and she was ordered to pay his costs.
Mel B and Stephen Belafonte Court Case Read More »
Video: the lawyers behind the Sweet Bobby documentary on what the catfishing case looked like from the legal side.
Behind the scenes of the Sweet Bobby legal case Read More »
the implications of the Brazilian judge’s decision. While Matt focused on Elon Musk and X as the sources of controversy, I argued that the more pressing issue is being overlooked
The Controversial Ban on X in Brazil: A Debate with Matt Frei | LBC Interview Read More »
A mother falsely accused online of belonging to a satanic cult. The harassment campaign was stopped and its leader prosecuted.
The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax case Read More »
A Royal Marine officer whose former partner’s unproven allegations were passed by the police to his employer. A defamation and privacy claim against the force.
The case of TJM v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police Read More »
A defamation claim over Graham Linehan’s Substack articles and the readers’ comments beneath them. The court ruled that a blogger can be liable for both.
The case of David Paisley and Graham Linehan Read More »
Recently, I was quoted in a Newsweek article discussing Elon Musk’s controversial comments regarding a potential UK civil war and Keir Starmer’s subsequent legal warnings about online violence. The full article can be read here Could Elon Musk Face Legal Action For UK ‘Civil War’ Post?. Given my deep interest in technology, law, and free
Elon Musk, UK Civil War, and Keir Starmer’s Populist Rhetoric: A Critical Analysis Read More »
A libel claim over a false sexual assault accusation made on Twitter and YouTube. The judge awarded damages and rejected the public interest defence.
The case of Jack Aaronson AKA Dominic Ford V Marcus Stones Aka Mickey Taylor Read More »
A financial adviser defamed and harassed for six years by a former colleague. The first English case to award damages for defamation and data protection breach together.
The case of Brian Dudley v Michael Phillips Read More »
Why do people troll celebrities? Rumours about celebrities on social media The world of fame and fortune can be a difficult one to navigate. For celebrities, their lives are often the target of scrutiny from their fans and haters alike. Unfortunately, the rise of the internet has made it easier for people to express their
Celebrities Internet Trolls Read More »
A US public figure blackmailed by a companion he met on Seeking Arrangement. A High Court injunction stopped her disclosing the relationship or his name.
The case of XLD v KZL Read More »
A web developer who built dozens of fake websites about a client over a £200 dispute. Convicted in the criminal court, then sued in the High Court.
The cases of R V Paul Britton and Phipps v Paul Britton and Origin Design Read More »
The first harassment injunction in England against a former employee, who had posted private images and attacks on his former boss at the United Nations.
The case of Rada-Ortiz v Espinosa-Vadillo Read More »
A porn producer, also a primary school head teacher, who exploited homeless men on film. Legal action forced the website to close.
The case of Dominated Men and Mario Rogers Read More »
A celebrity harassed by an anonymous Instagram account. The first harassment injunction in the UK served through Instagram itself.
The case of DDF V YYZ Read More »
A transgender escort defamed and outed on adult review websites. A High Court privacy injunction, GYH v Persons Unknown [2018] EWHC 212 (QB).
The Case of GYH V Persons Unknown Read More »
The first disclosure order against Facebook, compelling it to hand over the identities of the anonymous trolls who abused one woman.
The case of Nicola Brookes V Persons Unknown Read More »
The longest known harassment case in the UK: thirteen years of letters and websites, ended when the harasser was traced and taken to court.
The case of Lindsey Goldrick Dean V Paul Curran Read More »
The first successful civil claim for catfishing in the UK, after a decade of deception by a relative posing as more than fifty people.
The Case of Kirat Assi v Simran Kaur Bhogal – Sweet Bobby Read More »
tried to change Google’s default privacy settings. When you use Google search, or YouTube, Google brings up a screen which is intended to help you make the right choices about the permission you give Google to collect your private information.
Google fined for bad cookies practices Read More »
What is the legal status of fact-checking?
According to Facebook, assertive statements of false information, misinformation or disinformation following fact-checking are not facts. They are only an opinion, even though, they are stated as facts and they also carry with them various sanctions.
Trouble at the Ministry of Truth Read More »
Latest anti-trust ruling by the European Court Today, the European General Court upheld a 2017 anti-trust ruling by the European Commission which imposed on Google a fine of $2.8 billion following a finding of anti-competitive conduct by the internet giant Why the decision against Google is important Google has lost its appeal against a $2.8
The EU anti-trust case against Google-the latest chapter Read More »
YouTube deletes 2 news channels depriving 500,000,000 viewers of news choice YouTube has permanently deleted two news channels, which appear to have reported news in a manner disagreeable to YouTube. Both news channels, which between them share more than half a billion viewers are sister stations of Russian RT News. The news channels broadcast in
YouTube deletes RT News Channels Read More »
Do social media companies discriminate against Russian generated content and if so, who has to pay the price? Yair Cohen explains in a live interview
Social media giants told by watchdog to delete tons of content or else…. Read More »
The aim of Senate Bill 7072 Florida (SB 7072) is to create a fairer competing environment for political candidates in Florida.
Senate Bill 7072 Florida Read More »
Internal security organisations in the US, have requested powers to allow them handle ransomware threat the same they handle terrorism.
blackmail and ransomware threat are a form of terrorism Read More »
Apple fined for anti-competitive behaviour. Earlier this week, Apple was fined by the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service for gaining an unfair advantage over other companies, through its app store.
Apple fined $12M in Russia over alleged app market abuse Read More »
Biden v Knight First Amendment Institute, summary of the facts of the case. The case was first brought on behalf of Twitter users who objected to the right of President Donald Trump to block them. The core complaint was that the President’s Twitter account was an “official” account and that the comments section on his Twitter account was a “constitutionally protected public forum
Why India farmers protest is supported by social media giants
India farmers protest is supported by social media giants Read More »
There are political ideologies that thrive on chaos. What if one day (or perhaps already) Facebook decides to adopt one of those ideologies and start using its power and influence to promote and spread chaos in some countries or around the world.
Did Facebook promote Chaos during COVID days? Read More »
The advice given by police to victims of harassment on the internet is to ignore their harassers or, in other words, develop a thicker skin.
Why the UK police tolerate online trolling? Read More »
Tool lets the boss watch
staff working from home The space in your spare bedroom does not automatically turn into the property of your e
Do employers have the right to spy on employees UK Read More »
In the case where damages awarded for breach of privacy on Facebook, it was shown that even when family members share information among themselves (only 35 people had access to the information), where the information is considered to be privacy
Breach of privacy after a post on a private Facebook Group court case Read More »
Tracing apps are playing a significant role in some countries in combating COVID-19. There is no doubt that COVID-19 has given a huge boost to some technological advances but more importantly, the virus has created a public readiness to accept them.
Why European governments are reluctant to use mobile phone tracking apps during COVID19 Read More »
What are the legal consequences of parents posting images and other private information about their young children on the internet
legal consequences of parents posting images of children Read More »
As our lives become more isolated and the amount of time we spend on social media is soaring, we start quickly to run out of original things to post. Thank God, though, that there are children in this world. No matter where you put them, they will always come up with something funny, creative and
Can you post pictures of minors on social media without consent Read More »
‘It could be a very simple process,’ says Yair Cohen, Internet Law Expert
Identifying online trolls would curtail bullying Read More »
The internet is allowing all type of vultures to take advantage of celebrities’ vulnerability. Celebrity harassment lawyer Yair Cohen says harassment of celebrities online is permitted because we encourage anonymous speech online
Celebrity harassment, vulnerability and online anonymity Read More »
The truth of the matter is that Facebook is now a “publisher” and as such it can be sued, at least in the UK for
Is Facebook a publisher? Read More »
At times of trouble, when important decisions need to be made, within the organisation about a critical topic, the place to turn to for the right answer is the mission statement. Mission statements are a way get everyone focused on the right direction, and they play a part in helping a business make sound long-term decisions.
Twitter, Facebook, Political Ads, Fake News and Mission Statements Read More »
Solicitor Yair Cohen speaks to BBC Radio Kent about The rate of homophobic hate crimes in the UK, including stalking and online harassment, has more than doubled over the past five years, with Kent police reporting a staggering 400% increase in reported cases.
Why homophobic hate crime has surged in England and Wales Read More »
I don’t know Jesy Nelson, but I feel both, relieved and delighted that she had found the courage to speak out about her experience to the BBC. I am absolutely sure that actions will save lives
Little Mix’s Jesy Nelson Trolling Read More »
Introducing the Solicitor of the Year – Private Practice Shortlist: Q&A with Yair Cohen, Partner at Cohen Davis Solicitors
Law Society Lawyer of the Year Finalist Interview: Yair Cohen Read More »
Social media platforms to be accountable for amplifying hate speech from Yair Cohen Solicitor on Vimeo. 8chan is where the suspect of the El Paso Shooting is believed to have posted a white nationalist manifesto rant. The platform in the meantime, had been shut down but the post was then copied to numerous mainstream social
Should social media platforms be made accountable for hate speech? Read More »
Facebook recently introduced a new tool aimed at giving users greater control over their personal data. But is it truly a remedy for privacy concerns, or just another layer of complexity in the tech giant’s data collection practices? Let’s break it down.
Facebook’s new privacy tool: What it really means for your privacy Read More »
Artificial intelligence might be great for Facebook and particularly for boosting up its advertising revenue. However,
Can predictive crime systems turn into a thought police Read More »
It’s an industry wide problem but will the big tech giants ever understand the reach of the damage that their negligent behaviour can cause? Facebook has created a reporting tool for scam adverts and donated £3m to Citizens Advice for an anti-scan project called Scams Action. The project was launched by Facebook after they agreed to
Facebook launches ads scam report tool following defamation lawsuit Read More »
Instagram has introduced two new systems using artificial intelligence. One, which will be known as Comment Warning, will be responding to comments that will prompt the encouragement of rewording if abuse Yair Cohen says to BBC World
Instagram declare war on bullying to avoid Government regulations Read More »
Simone Burns death. What impact can sharing such material have on an individual and what can be done to limit the distress and damaged
Simone Burns death-free speech or freedom from harassment Read More »
Yair Cohen , Social Media Lawyer, discusses Twitter’s recent decision of hiding harmful tweets by politicians
Can Twitter censorship of politicians’ tweets ever be justified? Read More »
In an interview with RT News, Yair Cohen – Internet Law and Social Media Lawyer, discusses alongside Bill Merr, a privacy campaigner, the recent revelation about Facebook’s moderator contractors’ poor working conditions and what Facebook could possibly do to improve working conditions.
Perhaps Facebook does not really want content on its platform to be moderated Read More »
US Congress launches Big Tech Antitrust Probe The federal government is warming up its antitrust enforcement machine and is likely to be in the first stages of a ‘top-to-bottom review of the market power’ and is pointing it at the giant tech platforms – Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple. The anti-trust probe has been initiated
What the US Government is hoping to achieve with the Antitrust Probe Read More »
In the UK, there are no specific laws to shield social media companies from being held accountable for the material which is published on their platforms. The courts, however, have largely allowed them to get away with claims that they are not “publishers” but only provide
The government will eventually, like it or not, police the internet. This is inevitable. The recently published White Paper which warned internet companies very clearly of its intention to set up a new internet regulator is an indication of what social media companies should expect to see in the future. How powerful this regulator will be, will largely depend on how genuine social media companies’ effort to combat intolerance, prevent self-harm and decrease the amount of fake news is.
Why does Facebook ban right-wing extremists Read More »
Bloomberg have reported that Vodafone had discovered ‘hidden back doors’ in Huawei’s home equipment, including an internet router in 2009/2010, that would allow the Chinese company unauthorised access to user’s home and business fixed line networks in Italy. Vodafone has admitted vulnerabilities, which were identified by independent security testing initiated by Vodafone as part of
Bloomberg’s suspicions on Huawei’s hidden ‘back doors’ could be politically motivated Read More »
Internet police author Yair Cohen says I am often asked, how much of a responsibility do we as internet users have, to police the internet ourselves and decide whether we are going to watch certain images or share horror films of live events. After all, the more we share the more we encourage others to commit social media atrocities.
This is a very interesting question. It is easy to blame us, the people, for our part in watching and sharing horrific images via social media. At the same time, people should not be judged too harshly in this regard because after all, we are only human. When we see something that is shocking, something t
Who is responsible for protecting children’s safety online Read More »
The reason why some people allow themselves to say online what they wouldn’t dare saying in person goes back to the early days of the internet, where there was a perception that the internet was outside the scope of regulations and policing. It was a free space where people could do whatever they wanted; free speech was king, there wasn’t a government and in fact,
Freedom of Speech and Online Harassment Read More »
This week, Yair Cohen was interviewed on Al Jazeera TV and was asked by the host: ‘Do you think that the expectations of the egalitarian nature of the internet were too high?’ Yair: ‘I think that the internet, in the early days, was seen almost as an anarchistic place. The idea of the bureaucracy meant
Can the internet ever be policed? Read More »
