Privacy and Confidential Information

Privacy is an essential part of life. It affects our sense of dignity and self-autonomy. It is also important for our relationships, whether those are personal or business, and intimacy with other people.

In the modern digital world, an increasing number of us are spending large amounts of our time online. When posting information or pictures that share our day-to-day lives, Our privacy can come under threat from many different sources, such as the internet, mobile phones and other technology. Not only has our increased use of the internet and social media apps generated a wealth of information about us online, but there is a greater risk of our private information being ‘leaked’ online causing instant harm to our reputations or intrusions upon our private life.

You will want to keep certain private information out of the public domain, and the unauthorised disclosure may risk your professional reputation or family. Such instances can also be distressing to your family and friends, and impact your employment as they amount to an intrusion into the most private and intimate of information.

Our Media and Reputation Management team is able to assist at both pre and post-publication stages, and is on hand to guide you through what we understand is a worrying and distressing experience.

At JMW, our expert team of privacy law specialists helps to prevent the misuse of your private information and breach of confidential information. When things have, unfortunately, gone wrong, we are on hand to help clients to secure legal remedies, such as compensation.

To speak to one of our privacy solicitors about a breach of your personal information, contact JMW today by calling 0345 872 6666, or fill in our online enquiry form to request a call back.

How JMW Can Help

Our dedicated privacy law team has represented many public figures, celebrities and high-net-worth individuals.

A breach of confidential information or misuse of private information can lead to serious and long-lasting emotional distress and financial loss, as well as reputational damage. Our experienced team works to secure compensation and other legal remedies, including apologies, statements in court and steps to avoid future problems.

What Does ‘Privacy’ Mean?

An infringement on your privacy rights may take various forms, ranging from the unauthorised disclosure of your medical records to a different patient at your GP practice, to a media outlet threatening to publish a ‘kiss and tell’ story of a well-known sports personality.

Understandably, there will be certain information that is private and sensitive, and that you do not wish to be shared. That may be information about your private life, or opinions and beliefs. Privacy law can relate to a wide range of different information, including sensitive details about the following:

• Appearance
• Family, home and everyday life
• Financial and business information
• Health and medical information
• Involvement in crime (including as a victim)
• Opinions and beliefs
• Sex and relationships

Discovering that your private and intimate information has been published, or is at risk of being published, is distressing and upsetting not only for you but for family members. We have extensive experience in handling sensitive cases. We also act for members of the public who are drawn into high-profile incidents or disputes relating to privacy issues.

What is the Legal Basis for Bringing a Claim?

A privacy claim may be brought under the common law misuse of private information, breach of confidence or a breach of a data subject’s rights under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. You may also have a claim in harassment. Our Media and Reputation Management team is able to guide you through the options available. Importantly, that may be a claim that seeks to enforce not only your own privacy rights, but those of your immediate family.

Where there is a threat that your private and intimate information may be published, whether that be online or in the print media, it may be appropriate to consider urgent injunctive relief. Our Media and Reputation Management team is well placed to advise you quickly on whether an interim injunction is an appropriate action, and to take steps to protect your reputation.

Our team is also able to advise upon any anonymity or reporting restrictions that may be appropriate to apply for at the time of issuing a claim.