Privacy Injunctions And The Media

A string of high profile law suits has drawn attention to a rapidly developing and controversial branch of media law – the use of privacy injunctions to restrain publication of information relating to the private lives of individuals. The purpose of this book is to set out the law relating to privacy injunctions, and best practice in relation to seeking or opposing this form of relief. Such best practice is targeted not just at litigators. This book is aimed also at journalists who are the watchdogs of the freedoms of our society, and other organs of the media. The text is broken down into easily manageable sections, with numerous check-lists and quality control protocols. Applications in the Queen's Bench Division (including personal injury), Family Division (including the President's "Media guidance†? and "Reporting Restriction Orders†?) and "harassment†? are covered, together with a "journalists' check-list†?. The book reflects the agenda (included in the foreword to the book) set by Lord Neuberger's Report of 2011 ("Report of the Committee on Super-Injunctions†?).

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right at the heart of any democratic society. It is, however, inevitably restricted by other important values, including the right to privacy: the control individuals exercise over their sensitive personal information. The English law, since the enactment of the Human Rights Act 1998, has undergone a tectonic shift in its recognition of this right protected by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which the Act assimilated into domestic law. The new civil wrong, 'misuse of private information,' now affords greater protection to an individual's 'private and family life, home and correspondence.' The press is, of course, no longer the principal purveyor of news and information. The Internet offers abundant opportunities for the dissemination of news and opinions, including the publication of intimate, private facts. Social media, blogs, and other online sites are accessible to all. Indeed, the fragility of privacy online has led some to conclude that it is no longer capable of legal protection. This book examines the right of privacy from a legal, philosophical, and social perspective, tracing its genesis in the United States, through the development of the law of confidence, and its recent recognition by the Human Rights Act. The English courts have boldly sought to offer refuge from an increasingly intrusive media. Recent years have witnessed a deluge of civil suits by celebrities seeking to salvage what remains of their privacy. An extensive body of case law has appeared in many common law jurisdictions over the last decade, which shows no sign of abating. The Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices, and ethics of the press, sparked by the hacking of telephones by newspapers, revealed a greater degree of media intrusion than was previously evident. Its conclusions and recommendations, particularly regarding the regulation of the media, are examined, as well as the various remedies available to victims of intrusion and unsolicited publicity. The law is locked in a struggle to reconcile privacy and free speech, in the face of relentless advances in technology. The manner in which courts in various jurisdictions have attempted to resolve this conflict is critically investigated, and the prospects for the protection of privacy are considered.

Published in conjunction with the International Bar Association, this high-profile collection of writings brings together judicial, legislative, regulatory, journalistic and academic perspectives on the current state of media laws in the UK and in the US, scrutinising their efficacy in relation to the rights for privacy and free expression.

Media law is a fast-developing area of scholarship that raises many high-profile and controversial questions. Recent issues include the use of privacy injunctions, the regulation of the press, the political power of media moguls, mass leaks of government information, and the responsibility of the digital media to prevent the spread of extreme content and fake news. This study looks at these issues and the key debates in media law. The book includes chapters examining the protection of personal rights to reputation and privacy, the administration of justice, the role of government censorship, the protection of the newsgathering process, the regulation of the media and the impact of digital communications. The analysis is grounded in an account of media freedom that looks at the important democratic functions performed by the media and journalism. Examining various key themes, this study shows how those functions continue to evolve in a changing political culture and also how the media are subject to a range of legal and informal constraints. The book asks whether the law strikes the right balance in protecting media freedom while preventing the abuse of media power, and considers the future of media law in the digital era. It is essential reading for students and scholars of media law alike.

This report says Parliament should not introduce any new privacy statute. It concludes that in weighing the competing rights to privacy and freedom of expression, each case must be judged on its own merits. The bar for limiting freedom of expression must be set high, but the courts are now striking a better balance in dealing with applications for privacy injunctions. Criticism that privacy law has been "judge-made", noting that it evolved from the Human Rights Act is rejected. The Committee says the most important step towards improving protection of privacy is to provide for enhanced regulation of the media. The Press Complaints Commission lacked the power, sanctions or independence to be truly effective. Substantial changes to press regulation are needed to ensure that it encompasses all major news publishers including, in time, major bloggers. The Committee makes several recommendations including that the reformed regulator should: have access to a wider range of sanctions, including the power to fine; be cost-free to complainants; be able to determine the size and location of a published apology, and the date of publication; play a greater role in arbitrating and mediating privacy disputes. One possible mechanism the Committee suggests is for advertisers to agree to advertise only in publications that are members of the press regulator and subscribe to its rules. It also concludes that parliamentarians should ensure that material subject to an injunction is only revealed in Parliament when there is good reason to do so

"A specialist team of barristers from Five Raymond Buildings (the media, entertainment and human rights chambers) have come together to write this timely consideration of the rapidly developing law of privacy in England and Wales. The book considers how the law protects the publication of personal information without undermining the fundamental principle of freedom of expression. Although intended as a practitioners' guide to the law, it includes a consideration of comparative and international jurisprudence, as well as leading academic writings on the subject, in order to elaborate the principles upon which privacy rights are based. These may helpfully guide the development of English law in the years ahead. At the heart of the book is an explanation of existing causes of action which may be used to protect personal privacy and practical advice on defences and remedies that may be available. It is recognized that recent legislation, most notably the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998, has had a significant impact on the law in this area and full consideration is given to their application. A vast range of case law is also analysed, including the House of Lords judgment in Naomi Campbell v MGN Ltd, the European Court of Human Rights judgment in Von Hannover v Germany, and the Court of Appeal judgment in Douglas v Hello!. The Law of Privacy and the Media is essential reading for all those who act for or against the media, as well as all those with a general interest in the subject."--Publisher's website.

Precise and lucid in its treatment of practical detail, McNae's Essential Law for Journalists is the unrivalled handbook for students of journalism and professionals. Including pithy summaries, clear cross-references, and hands-on practical advice, McNae's meets the needs of busy journalists who need quick and reliable answers to the questions they face in their day-to-day work, while also providing students with authoritative coverage of key media law topics. Published in partnership with the National Council for the Training of Journalists as the elemental text for students, and widely used in newsrooms across the UK, McNae's continues to successfully distil the law and make it manageable. Online resources Comprehensive online resources accompany the text, including regular updates from the authors to keep readers abreast of the law. www.mcnaes.com