Ministry of Defence v Global Media & Ors (OPEN Judgment) [2025] EWHC 2606 (KB) (10 October 2025)

Ministry of Defence v Global Media & Ors (OPEN Judgment) [2025] EWHC 2606 (KB) (10 October 2025)

There is no longer a tenable basis for the injunction given the overwhelming consensus in the Rimmer Review that Taliban acquisition of the dataset would not significantly increase risk to individuals. The public interest in discharging the injunction and restoring Article 10 rights outweighs any procedural delay for further submissions, especially as meaningful participation by affected individuals is impracticable without substantial delay.

Citation
[2025] EWHC 2606 (KB)
Parties
Claimant: Ministry of Defence; Defendants: Global Media and Others; Interested Parties: TPL1, QP1, MXR, AFA, XY1 (represented by Special Advocates)
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
10 October 2025
Procedural Posture
Injunction (media Law/national Security) / Ruling on Discharge of Injunction
Outcome
Injunction discharged
Legal Topics
Injunctions, Freedom of Expression, Article 10 ECHR, Judicial Review, National Security Assessments
Media Law National Security Civil Procedure Injunctions Freedom of Expression Article 10 ECHR Judicial Review National Security Assessments

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Parties

Ministry of Defence

Claimant

Global Media and Others

Defendants

TPL1, QP1, MXR, AFA, XY1 (represented by Special Advocates)

Interested Parties

Procedural Posture

Injunction (media Law/national Security) / Ruling on Discharge of Injunction

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the injunction restraining publication should be discharged in light of new national security risk assessment
  2. 2 Whether affected individuals should be permitted to make submissions before discharge of the injunction

Ratio Decidendi

There is no longer a tenable basis for the injunction given the overwhelming consensus in the Rimmer Review that Taliban acquisition of the dataset would not significantly increase risk to individuals. The public interest in discharging the injunction and restoring Article 10 rights outweighs any procedural delay for further submissions, especially as meaningful participation by affected individuals is impracticable without substantial delay.

Court Disposition

Injunction discharged

Orders

  • The injunction is discharged with effect from a date to be set (next week).
  • No modification of the injunction to permit open representatives to be informed in advance.