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ABSTRACT
Photographs published in the Mail Online of Musician Paul Weller and his young children taken in the street in California were subject to a misuse of private information and breach of Data Protection Act claim against Associated Newspapers Limited. In the Court of Appeal's judgment a number of matters were given consideration, including the application of Californian law, where it was lawful to both take and publish the photographs; whether the claimants had a reasonable expectation of privacy; the relevance of the status of the child and the extent to which matters such as consent play a role. In outlining these issues the case emphasises a need for more clarity on both the taking and publishing of photographs – in relation to the famous and their children, and to children in general.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes on contributor
Holly Hancock is a PhD candidate and Associate Tutor at the University of East Anglia Law School.
Notes
1 [2015] EWCA Civ 1176.
2 Campbell v MGN [2004] UKHL 22; [2004] 2 AC 457.
3 [2005] 1 AC 593 [17].
4 Weller & Ors v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2014] EWHC 1163 (QB) [172].
5 Weller (n 1) [60].
6 Murray v Express Newspapers plc [2007] EWHC 1908 (Ch) [55].
7 This second test was set out in Murray (n 6).
8 Von Hannover v Germany [2004] EMLR 379; (2005) 40 EHRR 1; Von Hannover v Germany (No 2) (2012) 55 EHRR 15; Von Hannover v Germany (No 3) (2013) Application No 8772/10.
9 [2003] 3 NZLR 385 [138].
10 Campbell (n 2) [165].
11 Peck v United Kingdom (2003) 36 EHRR 41; [2003] EMLR 287
12 Ibid, [62].
13 (2001) 46 EHRR 1272 [57].
14 Murray (n 6) [37].
15 Von Hannover v Germany (2004) 40 EHRR 1, [50]–[53].
16 [2006] EWCA Civ 1714; [2008] QB 73; [2007] 3 WLR 194; [2007] EMLR 113.
17 Ibid, [58] (Eady J).
18 Reklos v Greece (2009) 27 BHRC 420.
19 Murray v Big Pictures Ltd [2008] EWCA Civ 446; [2009] Ch 481 [36].
20 UKSC 42 [2015] 3 WLR 155.
21 Murray (n 19) [36].
22 Ibid, [98].
23 Weller (n 1) [60].
24 Campbell (n 2) [154].
25 John v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2006] EMLR 722.
26 Murray (n 19) [56].
27 Murray (n 19).
28 Re JR 38 (n 20).
29 Murray (n 19) [8].
30 Re JR 38 (n 20) [55].
31 Weller (n 1) [171].
32 Ibid, [63].
33 Murray (n 6) [23] (Patten J).
34 Weller (n 1) [63].
35 Re JR 38 (n 20) [95].
36 Weller (n 1) [20] referring to Re JR 38 (n 20) [95].
37 Re JR 38 (n 20) [65].
38 Weller (n 1) [29]–[30].
39 See n 21 for the factors.
40 Murray (n 6) [65].
41 Weller (n 1) [25].
42 Weller (n 1) [40].
43 Weller (n 4) [54].
44 Von Hannover v Germany (No 2) (2012) 55 EHRR 15, [109]–[113].
45 Von Hannover (No 1) (n 15) [59].
46 See National Union of Journalists, ‘Photographers call “Wellers’ Law” wrong and unworkable’ (nuj.org.uk, 5 January 2015) <www.nuj.org.uk/news/photographers-call-wellers-law-wrong-and-unworkable/>
47 Weller (n 1) [49].
48 Weller (n 1) [63].
49 Von Hannover (No 1) (n 15) [59].
50 Murray (n 6) [47].
51 Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Editors' Code of Practice, ipso.co.uk (March 2015) <www.ipso.co.uk/assets/82/Editors_Code_of_Practice_A4_March_2015.pdf>
52 Murray (n 6) [46].
53 Murray (n 19) [46].
54 For the Weller's Statement see Press Association, ‘Paul Weller Children Win Privacy Damages Over Photos On Mail Online’ (The Guardian, 16 April 2014) < www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/16/paul-weller-privacy-damages-children-photos-mail-online>
55 Weller (n 1) [125] 2014.
56 Hannah Weller's campaign site can be found at <www.childrensprivacy.co.uk> (accessed 20 March 2016).
57 See Daniel Boffey, ‘Hannah Weller: I’m Fighting To Protect Everyone's Children’ (The Guardian, 3 January 2015) <www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jan/03/paul-weller-hannah-weller-battle-for-privacy-children> accessed 27 February 2016.
58 Sciacca v Italy (2006) 43 EHRR 400.
59 Nominet, ‘Today's Children Will Feature In Almost 1,000 Online Photos By The Time They Reach Age Five’, Nominet.uk, 26 May 2015 <www.nominet.uk/todays-children-will-feature-in-almost-1000-online-photos-by-the-time-they-reach-age-five/> accessed 18 March 2016.
60 Weller (n 4) [63].
61 danah boyd, ‘Privacy and Publicity in the Context of Big Data’ (Talk, North Carolina, 29 April 2010) <http://www.danah.org/papers/talks/2010/WWW2010.html> accessed 5 May 2016.
62 Campbell (n 2).
63 See the Guardian report for more information on this; Press Association ‘Adele's Son Gets Payout In Privacy Case’ (the Guardian, 23 July 2014) <www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jul/23/adele-son-payout-privacy-corbis-angelo-adkins>
64 Weller (n 1) [58].