We receive a high number of Reports about barristers’ use of social media. They account for around 10% of all Reports we receive, and we close 90% of them. Following a marked increase in Reports, we have reviewed and have decided to change our procedure for the assessment of Reports about social media use.
From 2 February 2026, where we receive a social media Report from someone who is not identified or clearly identifiable and personally targeted in the social media post, we will treat the report as intelligence. We will assess it in the usual way, but we will not inform the intelligence provider of any decision we make, and they will not have a right of review.
Where the reporter is identified or identifiable and personally targeted in the social media post, we will follow our usual process. That is, they will receive a decision from us and that decision will be reviewable.
Moving to this approach will avoid the application of time and resource on matters in which individuals have no direct interest or standing, enabling us to direct our resources more effectively to the increasing number and complexity of reports.
We've published information about our new approach on the regulatory decision making policies section of our website.
