In the CPD course Developments in the Legal Web 2012 prepared by Nick Holmes and me, we asked participants which of the sites covered in our Chapter 4 – Keeping up with tech, media and IP law – they would find most useful.

A clear winner in the participants’ preferences was Panopticon, from the 11KBW Information Law Practice Group, led by Timothy Pitt-Payne QC, Anya Proops and Robin Hopkins. As it says on the site “Information law is about the right to know, and the right to keep private – and the ever-shifting boundary between those rights. It encompasses areas such as data protection, freedom of information, the protection of private information under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, breach of confidence, and the regulation of surveillance.”

The title “Panopticon” apparently comes from Jeremy Bentham’s proposed new model prison, in which constant surveillance would be a tool for moral regeneration. It has become an enduring metaphor in debates about the benefits and the dangers of systematic information-gathering.

Here are some of the comments we received, in no particular order.

This is a very useful site for anyone practising in the field of media freedom/responsibility. I recently represented a jury foreman who was alleged to have breached the prohibition on dissemination of views expressed during jury retirement. The balance of freedom of expression with legitimate state interest in confidentiality was greatly informed by materials on this site.
– Rupert Pardoe, 23 Essex Street.

This is not an area in which I practise but it still covers topics which are of relevance to me. Two that immediately spring to mind are issues arising from infringement of Article 8 rights and distribution of personal data. These matters arise in clinical negligence and police work both of which I do. I liked the blog because it had a lot of posts and it is kept bang up to date.
– Sophie Mortimer, 1 Chancery Lane

Panopticon provides some useful articles on areas which could be relevant to my area of law. I found the site easy to use and could go straight in and see immediately where everything was. Having an Archive section is very useful and there were links to a wide range of other useful sites. I also liked the use of tags at the end of the articles.
– Frances Allen, Renaissance Chambers

Panopticon is a very thorough and wide ranging blog and covers all of the developments in information law and regulation and current judicial decisions. Critically the coverage is immediately applicable to other areas of law outside the rather esoteric area of information and web law covered by many of the other sites in this chapter. For instance the case report for Rugby Football Union v Consolidated Information Services Ltd (formerly Viagogo Ltd) [2012] UKSC 55 is of great practical use in general commercial practice.
– Henry Stevens, Trinity Chambers

I would find Panopticon useful on an ongoing basis. I find the format easy to navigate and I enjoy the RSS feed option. The content of articles is thorough but not over complex and the site has a raft of useful links.
– Alexander Upton, 23 Essex Street

Panopticon is a very useful commentary on the right to information which can be key to litigation eg disclosure sought against public bodies. It also has a very comprehensive archive, divided by date and topic as well as a search engine.
– Robert Toone, KBW Chambers Leeds

Panopticon provides useful and up to date insight into information law. This will be particularly useful for me given the frequent instructions I get from government departments where the tension between freedom of information and the protection of private information is often prominent. This site will be a useful port of call for the latest developments.
– Tiran Nersessian, 4 Stone Buildings

Data protection is something that members of the Bar need to be up-to-speed on, but often aren’t. This should therefore provide answers, or access to answers, on those issues with which we are required to comply as a matter of ongoing professional conduct. The regulation of private information, surveillance etc also has relevance to personal injury work, and the ongoing battle between claimants and defendant insurance companies seeking to unveil bogus claims.
– James Arney, Temple Garden Chambers

The large number of knowledgeable contributors means that it is kept well up to date, and as well as having many of its own articles it has a comprehensive set of links.
– Richard Lander, Kings Chambers

Panopticon looks interesting as more and more work is being done electronically and more and more data is being stored in either the cloud, in laptops, or in handheld devices the scope for loss of such items and thereby information is great. The balance between freedom of information and rights to privacy and data protection are difficult to resolve and keep in check.
– Nicholas M Smith, St Philips Chambers Birmingham

Delia Venables is joint editor of the Newsletter.

Email delia@venables.co.uk.