Twitter, Injunctions and Footballers

Hmmm …

Hmmmmm …

Or possibly even Hmmmmmmm …

You know, I’ve got to confess, I’m … concerned …

Sort of …

I don’t know if you knew, but the UK’s got privacy laws.

Obviously … !

And as part of this, over the past few weeks, Britain’s various news services have been reporting about the fact that various unnamed public figures have managed to get what’s been called ‘super injunctions’.

The main difference — as far as I understand it — is that an injunction, complete with details of who took it out, against who, and why, can be reported.

A super injunction can’t.

The problem is that, over the past few days, people have managed to tweet the names of several people who’ve had these super injunctions taken out.

Including a footballer known in court CTB.

He’s going to court to prevent various newspapers breaching the super injunction.

And issue a court order to get Twitter to hand over the details of anyone who’s tweeted all the juicy details.

»»•««

Now, I’ve go to admit, I’m a touch dubious about this …

I always try and be careful about what I say and do, online.

But I’m very aware that I’m not, by any stretch of the imagination, any kind of public figure …

Well …

Not unless you’ve a thing about short and chunky bloggers*.

But I’m very aware that, while we’ve all got an inherent right to privacy …

I believe public figures are — obviously — in the public eye.

Whether they’re politicians, premier league footballers or otherwise.

These people have chosen to put themselves in view.

And should maybe be a little bit MORE aware — and tolerant — of the fact people will want to know about everything they do.

* A very old and dear gay friend of mine swears blind I’d go down a storm on the teddy bear circuit …

Read All About It: News Of The World …

Hmmm …

You know, in the middle of everything else that’s going on in the world, I’ve got to admit, one story has caught my eye.

I don’t know if you remember it, but, a few years back, a private investigator and a sub-editor from the News International paper, the News Of the World, were jailed after being prosecuted successfully for accessing voice-mail messages on celebrity mobile phones.

Yesterday saw News International apologise over further cases: and admitting liability in others, as well as saying they’ve started up a compensation fund of some £20, 000, 000.

Hmmm …

Now, I’ve got to admit, I’m thinking there’s a certain amount of fuss over nothing.

After all, anyone in the public eye will, I believe, act according, to not annoy to many of the punters. Or, indeed, voters: I got talking to Councillor Chilvers, a couple of days ago, who quietly admitted that even as ‘just’ a local councillor, she’s careful about what she says and does.

On the other hand … ?

As one of two commentators have said, News International’s London offices — or a subset of them, at any rate — seem to have been caught with their hands in the proverbial pot.

And that they’re hoping to settle out of court, to avoid lengthy — and expensive — legal fees.

And certainly puts their BSkyB deal look a lot more dubious, from where I’m sitting …