The Independent
Saturday 17 February
1996

BURGER GIANT UNDER McSPOTLIGHT

Danny Penman

A new attack against McDonald's was launched on the Internat yesterday, when a site containing more than 1,700 pages of news and information about the company came on-line.

The 'McSpotlight' site has been instigated by the 'McLibel Two', who are at present fighting a lawsuit for defamation brought by the burger chain.

In the McLibel case McDoanld's alleges Helen Steel and Dave Morris distributed a leaflet that accused the burger chain of exploiting children, the environment and its workers. In addition, the company alleges, the leaflet suggested that its food was linked to heart disease and cancer. The trial, now in its 19th month, is expected to last for another year.

The McSpotlight site contains video clips allegedly linking McDonald's with rainforest destruction, a complete set of McLibel witness statements and scientific papers, guided tours, audio interviews with the McLibel Two, and a McQuiz.

The original leaflet, 'What's Wrong With McDonald's', which sparked the court case, can be printed in 17 languages to the 35 million people worldwide who regulalrly use the Net.

To forstall any possible legal action, the host computer is in the Netherlands, which has less restrictive libel laws than the UK.

Mike Love, a spokesman for McDonald's, said it had no plans to try and close down the Internet site but would carry on with the court case.


Lettered response
The Independent
Tuesday 20 February
1996

Surfers Against the Big Mac

From Ms Franny Armstrong Sir: In your article ("burger giant under McSpotlight", 17 February) you state that the 'McLibel Two' defendants instigated the "McSpotlight" anti-McDonald's World Wide Web site, launched last Friday. They have indeed contributed, but it is important to note that the site is a completely independent project of the McInformation Network (a network of volunteers working from 14 countries around the world), who are responsible for setting up and running this online library of over 1,300 files (accessed 35,386 times on its first day).


Sincerely,

Franny Armstrong

McInformation Network
London, N10
18 February, 1996

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