Billions of minutes a month are spent globally on social media. This raises not only serious legal issues, but also has a clear impact on everyday commercial activity.

This book considers the significant legal developments that have arisen due to social media. It provides an expert explanation of the issues that practitioners and businesses need to consider, as well as the special measures that are required in order to minimise their exposure to risk. The content is highly practical, and not only explores the law related to social media, but also includes useful aids for the reader, such as flow charts, checklists and case studies.

Various categories and channels of social media are covered in this book, alongside the legal classification of different social networks. Social media is also considered in the context of human rights law by evaluating the implications this has had upon the development of civil and criminal law when pursuing a civil remedy or criminal prosecution in relation to online speech. As part of these discussions the book deals specifically with the Defamation Act 2013, the Communications Act 2003, the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and the Contempt of Court Act 1988 among other key issues such as seeking Injunctions and the resulting privacy implications.

Finally, the author also pays careful consideration to the commercial aspects raised by social media. The reader will find reference to key cases and regulatory guidance notes and statutes including, the Data Protection Act 1998 (including the draft Data Protection Regulation), user privacy, human rights, trading and advertising standards, special rules for FCA regulated bodies and social media insurance.

This book is an invaluable guide for private practice and in-house practitioners, business professionals, academics and post-graduate students involved in the law surrounding social media.

About the Author

Laura Scaife is an Associate at Addleshaw Goddard and has extensively published on matters concerning compliance with e-commerce issues arising out of the Office of Fair Trading and Advertising Standard Agency guidelines as well as online revenue generation, defamation, electronic communications based offences, effective dispute settlement, business crisis management and reputational management.

Reviews

'This expertly written book provides an authoritative and clear road map for the multitude of stakeholders engaged with social media and the law...the text offers an accessible and analytic commentary from both a domestic and international perspective, coupled with incisive practical guidance.' Peter Coe, East Anglian Chambers, Compliance and Risk

'...comprehensive in its up to date overage of social media's interaction with a variety of areas of law applicable to a wide range of stakeholders.' Peter Coe, East Anglian Chambers, Compliance and Risk

'Within the general area of media and communications law, this seminal text has, undoubtedly, created a niche that will continue to expand. Consequently, since this author has adroitly managed to produce a book that strikes a good balance between being academically authoritative and practically accessible, this text is going to be a hugely influential 'must-have' for the ever-expanding body of people and organizations engaged with, or simply interested in, social media's relationship with the law.' Peter Coe, East Anglian Chambers, Compliance and Risk

Book Information
ISBN 9780367570361
Author Laura Scaife
Format Paperback
Page Count 388
Imprint CRC Press
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g