Privacy

A set of rights and freedoms designed to protect individuals from their own government. It was drafted by the UK and signed into law in 1998.

A UK law that incorporated the ECHR into British domestic law, giving individuals legal recourse to protect their rights.

The right to be left alone, free from unwanted intrusion or interference in one's personal life.

A legal principle that determines if an individual had a reasonable expectation that their personal information would be kept private. This is the first step in assessing whether a privacy violation occurred.

A legal document obtained from a court that prevents publication of information deemed to violate someone's privacy.

Compensation awarded in a legal case by a court to a victim of privacy violation, for the damage caused.

Organizations responsible for regulating the media industry, including enforcing privacy laws and standards.

A published correction or statement to rectify a privacy violation, often mandated by a regulator.

Factors that justify the publication of private information, such as protecting public safety or preventing crime.

Factors considered when determining the public interest, such as protecting public safety, preventing disorder, or exposing serious impropriety.

The right to keep personal information, such as sexual relationships, health, or investigations by the state, private unless there's a strong public interest.

The law protects privacy in sexual encounters, even if they involve infidelity. Public interest must be proven for these to be revealed.

Even when being investigated by the state, individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy, especially regarding the suspicion itself.

Being arrested in public weakens privacy expectations, as it becomes more visible. This may not apply in rioting or similar situations.

The right to privacy can be overridden if there's a compelling public interest. This could include the release of the suspect's name by the police.

CCTV footage of a suicide attempt was ruled a breach of privacy, highlighting the importance of protecting sensitive health information.

Weddings held in private spaces are protected by privacy laws. This means unauthorized photography can be a violation.

Pictures taken discreetly or with long lenses are generally considered a breach of privacy unless there's a clear public interest justification.

The public display of paparazzi pictures of high-profile children can infringe on their privacy rights. This can lead to legal action.

The right to privacy applies to correspondence, including mail, emails, and text messages. Unauthorized access is a violation.

Taking photos of someone in their back garden is generally considered an invasion of privacy, unless the individual can be seen from a public road or they are engaging in illegal activity.

Taking photographs of someone in their front garden is usually considered an invasion of privacy, unless the individual is hidden from public view.

The media must demonstrate a strong public interest when reporting on someone's private life to justify potentially violating their privacy.

When considering a privacy case, judges weigh the importance of freedom of expression against the right to privacy. They strive for a fair balance.

A key factor in deciding if a publication is justified in violating privacy is whether the published material contributes to a public debate or discussion that is relevant and beneficial to society.

The public interest defence for violating someone's privacy is more likely to apply to people who are well-known or have a public role.

Previous actions of an individual can be considered when deciding if their privacy has been violated. Prior misconduct may reduce their expectation of privacy.

The media needs to demonstrate that they obtained information in an ethical and responsible way to avoid charges of privacy violation.

Media organizations must adhere to the regulations set by organizations like IPSO and Ofcom regarding privacy and demonstrate that they followed these rules.

A thorough record of the decision-making process involved in reporting on a privacy-related issue, showing that the organization had a legitimate reason and followed ethical procedures.