Default Judgment Silences Speech Defenses

Respondents have only 2 working days to respond to complaints about their speech, or face adjudication based solely on the complainant's case (56(2), 56(3)). This compressed timeline is grossly inadequate for asserting speech-protective defenses like public interest disclosure, opinion/commentary exclusions, or correction/retraction protections—particularly for individual citizens, journalists, and small content creators lacking legal resources. The default judgment mechanism means a speaker's side may never be heard if they miss the deadline, creating a severe chilling effect on protected speech. This falls far below international standards (typically 14-21 days minimum) and disproportionately burdens those engaged in investigative journalism or public interest reporting.