News UK, the publisher behind The Times and The Sun, has invested in ClearDraft, an AI-powered legaltech tool. The platform is designed to scan large volumes of content to identify libel and other legal risks rapidly.
ClearDraft was co-founded in late 2025 by media lawyers Alex Wade and David Burgess. The system focuses on identifying legal risk patterns in content rather than generating new material. It aims to provide risk analysis and feedback to journalists before publication, assisting them in quickly identifying potential legal issues.
This integration is intended to allow News UK's in-house lawyers to concentrate on more complex cases, including combating Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (Slapps). Slapps are defined as defamation cases and legal threats often used as intimidation against journalists and campaigners by wealthy individuals.
According to co-chief executive Alex Wade, the platform can review a 100,000-word book in minutes, flagging risks that would take a lawyer at least 15 hours to identify. Angus McBride, General Counsel of News UK, stated that the investment is a natural step for the company, aiming to empower journalists to break stories faster and with greater confidence.