High Court Rejects Mark Steyn’s Case Against Ofcom
Former GB News presenter Mark Steyn failed to have the regulator’s decision overturned after Ofcom ruled against him for discussions on COVID-19 vaccines, including one with writer Naomi Wolf.
The High Court dismissed Steyn’s claim against Ofcom, stating that he breached guidelines in two separate discussions about COVID-19 vaccines in 2022 while hosting his show on GB News. Steyn, now working as an independent journalist, claimed that the rulings led to the end of his mainstream broadcasting career.
Steyn’s legal team argued that the decisions infringed on his right to freedom of expression under the European Convention on Human Rights. However, barristers for Ofcom successfully argued that the regulator’s decisions aimed to protect the public from potential harm.
Ofcom’s first decision focused on a show from April 21, 2022, where Steyn’s monologue on vaccine rollout was found to present a misleading interpretation of UKHSA data without sufficient challenge or counterweight. The second decision was related to Steyn’s interview with Naomi Wolf on October 4, 2022, where she made controversial remarks about the vaccine rollout.
The High Court judgment upheld Ofcom’s decisions, stating that Steyn failed to adequately challenge Wolf on the scientific basis of her claims. The regulator received numerous complaints about the interview and found that GB News did not take adequate steps to protect viewers from potentially harmful content.
No statutory sanctions were imposed on Steyn for the breaches, but GB News was asked to discuss compliance with the code. Steyn left the channel after contract negotiations in which he would have been personally liable for fines resulting from claims made during his shows.
Following the court hearing, Wolf criticized Ofcom for damaging her reputation and praised Steyn for fighting against censorship. Ofcom, established in 2002 and funded by the broadcast companies it regulates, issued directions to broadcasters in 2020 to carefully handle statements regarding COVID-19.
