Renowned lawyer Myles Jackman appointed Legal Director for Open Rights Group
Myles was awarded the Law Society’s Junior Lawyer of the Year award in 2012 having represented Michael Peacock and Simon Walsh in their landmark obscenity prosecutions, the #ObscenityTrial and the #PornTrial. He has campaigned for reform in this area, accusing the legal system of being “twenty years behind social values and technological change” in the area of sexual freedom and privacy.
About his appointment, Myles said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as ORG’s Legal Director, since their cutting edge campaigning work for digital freedom and against surveillance chimes perfectly with my personal privacy and freedom of expression agenda.
“This is particularly timely given the passage of the current Investigatory Powers Bill with its authorisation for State-sponsored mass hacking and intrusion into individual privacy and personal freedom.”
Executive Director Jim Killock said: “I am excited to announce this legal rock star signing. I hope that Myles’ recognition outside the legal sphere will attract new supporters to ORG’s campaign for digital rights and privacy.”
Meet the Lawyer
ORG are hosting a Meet the Lawyer event on the evening of the 5th April 2016 where Myles will discuss ORG’s legal strategy for the Investigatory Powers Bill. This event will be of particular interest to legal professionals who would like to provide their know how to an active privacy campaign. To request an invitation to attend this event, please contact: press@openrightsgroup.org
Interviews
For interviews, please contact Myles on: myles@openrightsgroup.org
Notes for Editors
ORG’s legal work includes the Privacy not Prism challenge at the European Court of Human Rights brought with Big Brother Watch, English PEN and the internet campaigner Constanze Kurz. They are challenging GCHQ’s surveillance practices and the current system of oversight on the grounds that they breach the right to privacy under Article 8 of the European Convention.
ORG also submitted an intervention in the case against the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIPA) brought by Liberty, represented by David Davis MP and Tom Watson MP. The Government has appealed the High Court’s ruling that parts of DRIPA are unlawful. The case has now been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
For more information about Myles visit: www.mylesjackman.com
Pornography is the canary in the coalmine of free speech: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-uks-sexist-new-pornography-restrictions-arent-just-an-act-of-state-censorship-but-could-be-the-9903830.html
Guardian Long Read: http://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/sep/09/one-lawyers-crusade-defend-extreme-pornography