Spycatcher trial

E715803

The Spycatcher trial was a high-profile 1980s legal case in the United Kingdom and Australia over the publication of former MI5 officer Peter Wright’s memoir, which tested government secrecy and freedom of the press.

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Spycatcher trial canonical 1

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Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf censorship case
court case
legal case
about activities of British intelligence services
alleged misconduct within MI5
appliesToJurisdiction Australian law
United Kingdom law
country Australia
United Kingdom
describedBySource contemporary press coverage
legal commentary on media law
follows publication of "Spycatcher" in the United States
hasConsequence embarrassment for the British government
precedent on reporting material already public abroad
wider circulation of allegations about MI5
hasEffect clarified law on confidentiality and public interest
increased public debate on intelligence oversight
limited use of prior restraint in the UK
tested freedom of the press
tested government secrecy
hasParticipant Attorney-General for England and Wales
Australian publishers
British government
linked to: UK government

British newspapers
High Court of Australia
House of Lords
Peter Wright
The Guardian
The Observer
The Sunday Times
legalIssue breach of confidence
freedom of expression
national security
official secrecy
prior restraint
location Australia
England
Wales
mainSubject Peter Wright memoir
book "Spycatcher"
notableWork "Spycatcher: The Candid Autobiography of a Senior Intelligence Officer"
linked to: book "Spycatcher"
pointInTime 1980s
significantEvent High Court of Australia decision permitting publication
House of Lords judgment allowing publication in the UK
timePeriod Cold War

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Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Malcolm Turnbull notableCase Spycatcher trial