Emma Sadleir: Social Media Expert

  • Expert in Social Media Law: Emma Sadleir is a leading expert in media law with a focus on social media law, including defamation, privacy rights, and online ethics.
  • Published Author: She has published widely in legal journals and media outlets, offering insights on the legal implications of digital communication.
  • Sought-After Speaker: Emma is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, regularly speaking at international conferences, corporate events, and educational seminars on topics such as digital ethics, online safety, and legal risks in social media.
  • Educational Advocate: Emma is committed to educating organizations and individuals on the legal consequences of social media behavior, offering workshops and training sessions to corporates, schools, and universities.
  • Media Commentator: She is frequently called upon by media outlets to provide expert commentary on high-profile cases involving digital law, defamation, and privacy breaches.
  • Engaging and Accessible Style: Emma has a talent for translating complex legal issues into practical, understandable, and actionable insights, making her a popular choice for diverse audiences.
  • Travels from: Johannesburg
  • **Fee range: On Request

Belongs to these categories

Keynote Topics

Now more than ever is the time to ensure that your staff are well-versed in the constantly changing laws and the very real risks and pitfalls inherent in the irresponsible use and abuse of social media platforms. In these unique times, where virtual interaction is often our reality, we have developed an innovative set of products which we believe should be a fundamental part of every company’s onboarding, corporate governance and responsibility.

The planet’s entire workforce has had to shift to a digital reality in order to conduct business. This means that your staff are online all the time! Cancel culture, work WhatsApp groups, naming and shaming, reputation management. It’s a full-time job staying on top of the riptide of new developments but luckily, we’re here to decode it all for you.

The most menacing threat posed to every company by social media is the potential reputational risk posed by every one of your employees. It’s not just what they put on social media that can have catastrophic consequences for your organisation, but also what they do in the real world which is documented and published on social media.

Social media has afforded everyone with a digital device instant access to an international, public and permanent platform. Simply put, every employee who owns a digital device represents a potential risk-factor to the company. The most effective way for organisations to mitigate against these risks is by raising awareness, educating and changing the behaviour of its work force – be it at executive, operational, professional or non-professional level. One of our mantras at the Digital Law Company is that prevention is better than cure.

We are delighted to offer you the following options for your consideration. We believe these products are the best solution to negotiate the inherently dangerous terrain created by the aggressive evolution of social media.

Live in-person presentations or online webinars tailor-made specifically for your organisation or event

The presentation or webinar is typically 75-90 minutes long, including time for questions, but we are also able to customise this product to suit your specific time requirements. We love the interaction of in-person presentations but if you prefer online webinars – we can use whatever platform your company uses – Zoom, Teams, Hangouts etc. The ‘live’ webinar option allows for a comprehensive and interactive experience including a thorough Q and A with Emma.

The focus of this presentation can be adapted to focus on your organisation’s individual needs, your social media policy and any relevant professional/ethical obligations.

We encourage you to guide us as to your content needs, but we propose that the presentation cover a selection of the following topical issues:

  • The social media landscape in South Africa
  • The legal considerations of using social media, including defamation, privacy, hate speech, crimen injuria, image-based violence, revenge pornography, threats, harassment, incitement, confidentiality, insider trading, intellectual property, naming and shaming, doxing, fraud, forgery, extortion, sextortion, social media as evidence, hacking, surreptitious recording etc
  • Employment law issues – hiring, firing, when Big Brother can read your private communications, work
  • WhatsApp groups, LinkedIn etc
  • Two brand spanking new laws! The Cybercrimes Act and the Films and Publications Amendment Act
  • Case law on disciplinary action taken emanating from social media
  • Employee privacy and social media – when Big Brother can read your private communications etc
  • The issues with work WhatsApp groups
  • The ‘social media audit’ phase of recruitment and guarding against discrimination
  • WhatsApp as a tool to communicate with clients – what are the risks?
  • The law around recording conversations in the workplace – RICA v POPI
  • The importance of a social media policy and what should be included
  • Business confidentiality in a world of over-sharing
  • Straddling the personal / professional divide on social media – particularly the intersection of freedom of expression and protecting business interests
  • Personal and brand reputation management on social media – particularly when it comes to employees’ political views
  • Social media disclaimers (“retweets are not endorsements”, “I tweet in my personal capacity” etc)
  • Liability for retweets, likes, tags and WhatsApp groups
  • Recent defamation and privacy law cases
  • Online social activism, naming and shaming, cancel culture and doxxing – #AmINext, #MeToo, #BLM – what does the law say?
  • Who should be allowed to speak on behalf of a company
  • How to manage employees who are responsible for social media channels
  • Influencer law
  • How to handle employees who have social media side hustles
  • ChatGPT, AI, deep fakes and a post truth world
  • Emoji law – yes, one emoji can a contract make!

Any variation of the above content, tailor-made for your organisation and recorded for repeat use and induction of new employees. The cost of recorded content will depend on your organisation’s needs.

Emma Sadleir is a media law consultant and speaker based in Johannesburg. Her areas of expertise include all aspects of print and electronic media law, with a particular focus on social media law. She has a BA LLB (with distinction) from the University of Witwatersrand and an LLM in Information Technology, Media Communications Law (with distinction) […]

Emma Sadleir is a media law consultant and speaker based in Johannesburg. Her areas of expertise include all aspects of print and electronic media law, with a particular focus on social media law.

She has a BA LLB (with distinction) from the University of Witwatersrand and an LLM in Information Technology, Media Communications Law (with distinction) from the London School of Economics, having been awarded a scholarship from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust to study abroad.

Much of her work involves creating social media strategies and policies for corporates and schools, drafting social media agency agreements and providing training and workshops on social media law.

She also teaches media law to journalists, and students of law and journalism.

Expertise: A Leader in Social Media Law

Emma Sadleir’s expertise lies in her deep understanding of the legal challenges that come with the modern digital landscape. With a background in both traditional media law and the burgeoning field of online and social media law, she is uniquely positioned to address the pressing concerns of today’s organizations and individuals.

Her journey to becoming an authority on media law began with her legal studies and subsequent practice in media and communications law. Over the years, she has fine-tuned her skills by focusing on how social media has changed the way individuals and organizations communicate. Emma has conducted extensive research on social media regulations, digital rights, and the consequences of online actions, which further cements her authority in this evolving field.

Emma’s credentials are reinforced by her continuous engagement with legislative changes and her ability to foresee and interpret legal trends that affect digital communication. She regularly conducts training sessions and workshops for legal professionals, business leaders, and educational institutions, further emphasizing her role as an educator and expert. She is often invited as a keynote speaker at prominent events related to law, technology, and digital communication, where she shares her insights on navigating the online space safely and legally.

Authority: A Recognized Keynote Speaker

Emma’s authority in social media law is undisputed. Her ability to translate complex legal jargon into relatable, actionable insights makes her a sought-after keynote speaker at conferences worldwide. With a portfolio of speaking engagements that span international legal symposiums, corporate workshops, and educational seminars, Emma’s insights have helped shape the way businesses and individuals approach digital communication.

Her keynote addresses are noted for their practical takeaways and deep understanding of real-world applications. As an authority in her field, Emma has been trusted to speak at high-level corporate events, providing expert advice on mitigating legal risks associated with online behavior. She is frequently called upon to comment on high-profile media law cases, with her opinions featured in leading news outlets. Her ability to interpret the implications of legislative changes in social media law has earned her the trust of corporate leaders, legal professionals, and educators alike.

Emma is the founder and managing director of The Digital Law Company, further solidifying her status as an expert in her field. Her leadership in the industry is demonstrated by her commitment to fostering ethical online behavior and helping clients manage the legal risks associated with social media.

Trustworthiness: A Reliable Advisor for Digital Communication

Emma’s trustworthiness is evidenced by the long list of corporate clients who continue to seek her counsel. She is known for her discretion, professionalism, and commitment to safeguarding her clients’ reputations. Her approach to social media law is rooted in a strong ethical foundation, and she takes a proactive stance in helping organizations avoid legal trouble by creating robust, compliant social media strategies.

Her reputation as a trustworthy advisor is further enhanced by her commitment to education. Emma has made it her mission to help individuals and organizations understand the legal implications of their online actions, which fosters a culture of responsible digital citizenship. Her work with schools and universities, educating young people on the consequences of their social media behavior, is a testament to her dedication to this cause.

Her integrity, expertise, and consistent delivery of reliable legal advice have earned her a reputation as one of the most trusted voices in the field of social media law.

Emma Sadleir | Social Media

Currently Emma sits on the eLaw sub-committee of the Law Society of South Africa and lectures personal and brand reputation management on the Gordon Institute of Business Science MBA.

Further she consults to national sports teams on the effective and responsible use of social media.

Emma Sadleir is a frequent guest on radio and television and has been interviewed as a social media law expert many times on on Carte Blanche (watch an interview on the Carte Blanche website), CNBC Africa, ENCA News, 702, Cape Talk, Jacaranda, Kaya FM, Power FM and Goodhope FM.

She has been quoted in the Mail & Guardian, Sunday Times, Saturday Star, the Sowetan, City Press, The Star, Pretoria News, Cape Argus, Drum Magazine, Saturday Argus, Beeld, Pretoria News Weekend, Sunday Argus, Engineering News and ITWeb.

Written papers on Tweeting from court, the regulation of alcohol advertising and liability for user generated content online.

Emma Sadleir is an admitted attorney and worked in the media litigation department of Webber Wentzel for five years before going on her own in April 2013.PRESENTATIONS:

The Legal, Disciplinary and Reputational Risks of Social Media

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