No right of privacy in England ...yet

Robert Horvitz, Project Manager
Global Internet Policy Initiative
sent:
From this week's issue of Quicklinks:

25. UK - Law lords rule there is no right to privacy (Guardian)
Five law lords rejected an attempt to establish that a right exists
under English law to sue for invasion of privacy. The ruling, which
had been keenly awaited by lawyers, establishes that there is no
"freestanding" right to privacy in English law. Instead, those seeking
damages when their privacy is invaded will have to bring their cases
under other, well-established types of action, such as breach of
confidence. Wainwright v. Home Office [2003] UKHL 53.
http://www.qlinks.net/items/qlitem16897.htm
36. UK - Legal threat to snooping laws (BBC)
Internet privacy campaigners say new legal advice could blow a hole in
Home Office plans to snoop on people's online and telephone activity.
A draft European directive on keeping communications data, which could
be used to strengthen the current voluntary code of practice in the
UK, breeches human rights laws, says international law firm Covington
& Burling. Two test cases may be taken to the European courts by lobby
group Privacy International to show UK attempts to widen internet
surveillance would be unlawful.
http://www.qlinks.net/items/qlitem16894.htm