Mosley takes privacy law challenge to Strasbourg
Motorsport boss Max Mosley plans to challenge the UK's privacy laws in the European Court of Human Rights, he said yesterday.
Earlier this year he won a record 60,000 in privacy damages against the News of the World for the "probably unprecedented" distress and indignity he suffered over the paper's "sick Nazi orgy" story.
He now wants newspapers to have to notify someone before publishing private information about them.
His solicitors will argue that without such a requirement the UK has no "real or effective" protection for the right of privacy.
Dominic Crossley, of Steeles Law LLP, said: "Whilst we all have a theoretical right to privacy this right can be and is violated before we can do anything about it. Mr Mosley's experience is testament to this."
He denied that the ruling sought in Strasbourg would have a "chilling effect" on journalism in cases where the exposure of private material had a "legitimate purpose or is genuinely in the public interest".
He said that because Mr Mosley did not know about the News of the World's article before it was published, he had no opportunity to seek an injunction.
The newspaper had printed photographs of Mr Mosley taking part in sadomasochistic activities with five women and claimed the session had a Nazi theme.
It also put secretly-filmed footage on its website, which attracted at least 3.5 million hits.
Mr Mosley, president of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile), said the role-play at a rented Chelsea basement was harmless, consensual and private, with no Nazi overtones.
Mr Mosley, 68, who is the son of the 1930s' Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, told the High Court that Jean, his wife of 48 years, was unaware of his sexual tastes and she and their two adult sons had been devastated.
- Leeds lose Ward to Palace: Is there anyone they can afford now?
- Sheffield Wednesday leaving it late to hijack Leeds United over Ward
- As Snodgrass dithers over Leeds, Warnock throws a lifeline
- Ball is in Leeds United’s court over contract - Snodgrass
- Police turning blind eye to Asian voter fraud, says MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
