Emma Sadleir: Social Media Expert

Emma Sadleir equips organisations with clear, practical guidance on social media law, helping leaders navigate digital risk, protect reputation and communicate safely in today’s evolving online landscape.

EMMA SADLEIR-3

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
  • LLB and LLM completed with distinction, including scholarship-funded study at LSE
  • Specialist in social media law, digital rights and online regulation
  • Advises corporates, schools and agencies on social media policy and communication risk
  • Experienced educator teaching media law to journalists and university students

Formats: Keynote speaker and media law consultant specialising in social media law.

Audience: Corporate leaders, legal teams, HR and compliance departments, educators, communication professionals and organisations managing digital risk.

Outcomes:
  1. Organisations gain clarity on digital risk and compliance
  2. Leaders understand safe online engagement and legal implications
  3. Teams leave with actionable policies and behaviours that protect reputation and reduce exposure
Reading time: 3 min
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Johannesburg

Talent Services

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.

Talent Short Bio

Emma Sadleir is a leading media law consultant and keynote speaker specialising in social media law, digital reputation management and online regulatory compliance. Based in Johannesburg, she brings a rare combination of legal expertise, research depth and front-line experience advising organisations, schools and individuals on how to operate safely and responsibly in the digital age.

Emma holds a BA LLB with distinction from the University of the Witwatersrand and an LLM in Information Technology, Media and Communications Law from the London School of Economics, completed with distinction through a scholarship from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust. Her early work in traditional media law gave her a strong foundation in defamation, privacy and regulatory frameworks, which she now applies to the rapidly shifting world of online communication.

Her consulting practice includes drafting corporate social media policies, designing risk-management frameworks, advising agencies, and delivering training sessions across sectors. She also teaches media law to journalists and university students, reinforcing her role as both practitioner and educator. Internationally recognised for her ability to translate complex legal insight into accessible, actionable guidance, Emma is frequently invited as a keynote speaker at conferences focused on law, technology, education and digital communication. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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