In my last media law blog I gave my lecture notes on the subject of Confidentiality and went into some detail about injunctions and rights to privacy. In the Tuesday, 26th of October edition of The Daily Mail there was a prime example of both of these issues.
The headline reads, "Blackmailer who tormented pop star over her laptop photographs" and details the case but, crucially, the main details which would interest the public of who the 'international superstar' is are left out. The paper acknowledges to the audience that they musician's identity 'is known to this newspaper but cannot be revealed because of a strict court order, which also bans [them] from revealing her age, nationality and whether she is in a relationship or has children'. This is an example of an injunction but clearly she has not imposed a superinjunction against the newspapers because this would prevent them even reporting that she was blocking details.
The case involves the theft of two laptops from the pop stars home after losing her house keys, possibly at the hairdressers. One of the laptops contained photographs of a senstive nature, the details of which were not discussed. Anonymous hand delivered letters and e-mails began arriving in which the blackmailer threatened to sell the photographs on to the media. A Sebastien Bennett, 24, unemployed from London, was convicted of blackmail and handling stolen goods. The offence carries a maximum 14-year term and he will be sentenced this Friday.
The original story can be read here on the Daily Mail website:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1323744/Popstars-tormentor-used-Google-Facebook-aid-blackmail-campaign-facing-jail.html
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