It was announced today that Max Mosley has won his privacy case against the News of the World. I have had reservations about privacy laws since the early 90s when Robert Maxwell - incidentally an outspoken opponent of the introduction of such laws in the UK - attempted to use French privacy laws to prevent the publication of a biography. Nevertheless, in the Mosley case, I think the right result has been reached.
The argument that the ruling will hinder investigative journalism is bogus. There was no serious investigation here. Colin Myler, News of the World editor, has admited that the paper did not even go to the trouble of translating German spoken by Mosley during his session. It is no use claiming your readers have the 'right to know', if you aren't giving them the full story.
The other key point is the word 'privacy'. These matters clearly related to Mosley's private life. Journalists conducting investigations into the professional lives of public figures, for example political corruption, are clearly involved in a different activity altogether. Provided such investigations are carried out in good faith, it is difficult to see how today's ruling will hinder them.
http://http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/24/mosley.privacy
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