A few weeks ago, the political blogosphere united to condemn the actions of Alisher Usmanov and his lawyers for attempting to shut down Craig Murray’s blog. We were right to do so; what made Usmanov’s actions particularly reprehensible was the way he used the law to intimidate Murray’s hosting company while cowardly avoiding a fight with Murray’s publisher who had already printed the allegations two years previously.
Now, Ben Goldacre draws our attention to another attempt to shut down a blogger. This time the fight is between a scientist and the Society of Homeopathy.
Andy Lewis‘ allegations seem quite straightforward. The Society has clear guidelines and Andy has what appears to be relatively clear evidence that one of its members is in breach of these guidelines. This isn’t about homeopaths making exaggerated claims about curing head colds to middle class Brits either, but involves potentially dangerous attempts to market homeopathy as a cure for malaria in Kenya.
Andy Lewis demanded answers: the response was a writ issued to his hosting company who subsequently took down the offending article. Sound familiar?
Sound familiar? It should do. There’s a growing list of bloggers who are protesting about this. So come on then Tom, Iain, Guido, Tim and others, how about it?
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
I’m disabled over the years I’ve had knocks on door with Claims of religious groups to be able to cure me by group prayer of laying on of hands for the sum of 25% of my benefits for life, to a one off payment to help spread the word of god, for the sum of £300. I’ve even had serious religious groups tell me prayer is the answer. my problem I’ve a lesion of the spinal cord science is my route out of disability not con men
I’ve put up the offending article here.
No need to hit me over the head with a shovel, but I doubt you’ll hear a peep out of Staines; he’s far too vulnerable to cries of “Hypocrisy!”
Probably a letter not a writ, James.
Apart from that – totally with you.