After over two years of legal battles, British household appliance manufacturer, Dyson has dropped its libel case against UK-based Channel 4 News, following the television broadcaster’s investigation into forced labor allegations at a Malaysian factory supplying Dyson products. This marks a significant moment in the fight to hold corporations accountable for labor abuses and exposes how powerful corporations use legal intimidation to stifle transparency.
Channel 4 exposed forced labor in Dyson’s supply chain
Channel 4’s 2022 investigation revealed exploitative working conditions at ATA IMS, a Malaysian factory contracted to manufacture Dyson products. The report uncovered severe forced labor practices, including long hours, inadequate living conditions, and recruitment fees that workers from Nepal and Bangladesh were forced to pay.
The investigation also showed that concerns over forced labor at ATA were brought to Dyson as early as 2019, but Dyson denied these claims until September 2021, when an audit exposed serious abuses at the factory. ATA IMS denied the allegations, and Dyson continued to resist accepting responsibility, despite the mounting evidence.
Channel 4 News reports,
Before the broadcast, Channel 4 News put the allegations formally to Dyson. Dyson responded by warning that if the programme ran the allegations, it could be liable for billions of pounds of damages. Confident of its journalism, Channel 4 News broadcast the story.
“These legal tactics are designed to intimidate”
Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) campaigners have hailed Dyson’s decision to drop the case as a victory for investigative journalism and transparency, saying this case highlights the lengths some corporations will go to in order to suppress reports of exploitation within their supply chains. Charlie Holt of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition said, “These legal tactics are designed to intimidate, harass, and force critics to retract their claims by driving up costs and dragging out litigation.”
The decision to abandon the libel suit underscores the critical role public interest journalism plays in exposing modern slavery practices and holding corporations accountable. Channel 4, in a statement with ITN, emphasized the importance of the ruling:
“The freedom to report without fear or favor is essential to both the industry and a thriving democracy. Today’s outcome underscores the vital role of robust, independent investigative reporting that is clearly in the public interest.”
Yet, despite this legal victory, the fight for justice continues. Twenty-three former migrant workers who faced abuse at ATA are still pursuing compensation, though Dyson continues to deny liability. Their case will next be heard at the Court of Appeal, serving as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in holding corporations accountable for labor exploitation.
Join the movement
Companies like Dyson should not be able to operate with impunity. It’s through exposing these abuses and demanding transparency that we can turn the tide.
Join us in calling for mandatory human rights and due diligence laws to prevent these injustices from happening again. Sign our petition and be part of the movement to ensure that no company profits from exploitation.
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Corporate power has gotten so out of control that I would venture to say they rule the world. In the US we have a corporate dictatorship and these CEO’s are destroying our democracy through lobbying and buying politicians. Tax the crap out of them and get rid of their lobbying power. Anything over 100 million should be taxed at 90% and allow them to write off anything they do on behalf of their workers and to improve product quality. Maybe we’ll see the quality of everything improve.
We need to pursue companies, police and councils with anti-slavery statements that buy electric vehicles with batteries made with material supplied via child slavery.