Introductory note to Bédat v Switzerland

With Bédat v Switzerland, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights adds to its case law on the limits of free speech protection for journalists. The judgment, which reverses a previous Chamber judgment, is noteworthy for three reasons. Firstly, it provides further insight into the concept of “responsible journalism” that the Court increasingly relies on when examining cases relating to press freedoms. Secondly, in balancing free speech with the right to privacy, the Grand Chamber clarifies which types of published information cannot be deemed to contribute to the public interest. Finally, the Grand Chamber asserts that the obligation on contracting parties to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to uphold the presumption of innocence of defendants before trial may also require them to limit press freedoms whenever the latter pose a risk to the former.