British newspapers are crowing that they refrained from publishing photographs of a topless Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, while a French magazine, (to use tabloid terminology) splashed them. And that despite France having criminal laws protecting privacy! (click here for article)
The British papers are doing all that refraining, and all that pointing out of the pointlessness of a privacy law, because we are in the eye of the tornado that is the Leveson enquiry.
Sir Brian is writing up his report at the moment; preparing the proposals that will frame the future of media regulation. Like a child in the run-up to Christmas, the British press wants the present-giver (or denier) to see what good boys and girls they are, unlike the boys and girls across the street.
Lord Justice Leveson asked me my views on this when I visited his enquiry; alright, strictly speaking he asked some other people who were witnesses to the enquiry while I was just in the public gallery, but it was the same room…
In any event, here’s my suggestion for press regulation in relation to privacy; make the punishment fit the offence. Read the rest of this entry »
