Invasion of Privacy – What you are (and are not) entitled to in the eyes of the law Image courtesy of privacy-please/

*All information furnished in this presentation courtesy of the Student Press Law Center. All images from this point on courtesy of Clip Art, unless otherwise specified. The legal right of privacy has been defined as the right to be let alone, the right of a person "to withhold himself and his property from public scrutiny if he so chooses." Federal Trade Commission v. American Tobacco Co. 262 U.S. 276 (1923) However, unlike the First Amendment right to free speech, privacy (in the media context) is not a right explicitly guaranteed by the Constitution. Instead, privacy law has developed over the last 100 years. During that time, four separate kinds of privacy invasion have emerged: (1)Public Disclosure of Private and Embarrassing Facts, (2)False Light, (3)Intrusion and (4)Misappropriation.

Public Disclosure of Private and Embarrassing Facts What’s typically off limits?

Public Disclosure of Private and Embarrassing Facts What’s the exception to the rule? If it’s NEWSWORTHY… and this is often deemed the case in stories involving PUBLIC FIGURES or PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

Public Disclosure of Private and Embarrassing Facts But what about… SMITH vs. DAILY MAIL, 1979 – If the information is “lawfully obtained” and “truthfully” reported…

False Light “To unflatteringly portray – in words or pictures – a person as something that he or she is not.” misleading captions that are “highly offensive to a reasonable person” and was published with a reckless disregard or the knowledge that the subject would be placed in false light

Intrusion upon Seclusion There exists a general expectation of privacy, but newsworthiness can be a defense for this, too! Types include… trespassing secret surveillance (such as bugging equipment or hidden cameras) laws vary from state to state misrepresentation (which occurs when a disguise or front is used to trespass or engage in something that would otherwise not be allowed) world/kate-middleton.htm

Information illegally obtained by a source NO JOURNALISTIC MISCONDUCT OR ENCOURAGEMENT OF OTHERS TO ENGAGE IN MISCONDUCT = PRINT IT! (especially if it’s newsworthy) Well, the law says you can, but that doesn’t mean that you should.

Misappropriation of Name or Likeness “The unauthorized use of a person’s name, photograph, likeness, voice or endorsement to promote the sale of a commercial product or service.”

Consent This is only a valid defense if you obtain the consent from someone with a legal right to give it. Can a minor give valid consent? If a minor is “capable of appreciating the nature, extent and probable consequences of the conduct (to which he consents) AND the minor is fully informed of what is taking place, then YES!!! The exception? Elementary-aged children

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) The purpose of the law: To provide students and their parents/guardians with access to school records (academic, medical, etc.) AND to penalize schools that release certain records to “third” parties. How it’s used: No one is authorized to furnish or report information, or publish images, that would qualify as “private” under FERPA What the law really allows: While school officials are prohibited from releasing certain information about students, student journalists are not.

The Bottom Line bail-bonds-agent-relates-fellow-bail-agent/ What you CAN do… is not always what you SHOULD do. Weigh both the law and morality in every journalistic decision you make.

Quiz 1. What are the four types of privacy invasion?

Quiz 2. Legally speaking, journalists can get around privacy law if they can show that what they report possesses what quality?

Quiz 3. Thanks to Smith vs. Daily Mail, journalists can legally report private information on minors if it meets what two pieces of criteria?

Quiz 4. What are the three types of intrusion upon seclusion?

Quiz 5. What is the criteria for publishing information that is illegally collected and furnished by a source?

Quiz 6. What criteria is used to determine if a minor can give legal consent?

Quiz 7. How are student journalists and school officials viewed differently in the eyes of the law as it relates to FERPA?

Quiz 1.What are the four types of privacy invasion? (1)Public Disclosure of Private and Embarrassing Facts (2)False Light (3)Intrusion (4)Misappropriation

Quiz 2. Legally speaking, journalists can get around privacy law if they can show that what they report possesses what quality? Newsworthiness

Quiz 3. Thanks to Smith vs. Daily Mail, journalists can legally report private information on minors if it meets what two pieces of criteria? It is lawfully obtained and truthfully reported.

Quiz 4. What are the three types of intrusion upon seclusion? trespassing, secret surveillance and misrepresentation

Quiz 5. What is the criteria for publishing information that is illegally collected and furnished by a source? It must come as a result of ZERO journalistic misconduct.

Quiz 6. What criteria is used to determine if a minor can give legal consent? If the minor can appreciate the nature, extent and probable consequences of the conduct (to which s/he consents) AND the minor is fully informed of what is taking place

Quiz 7. How are student journalists and school officials viewed differently in the eyes of the law as it relates to FERPA? School officials are not allowed to release certain information to third parties, but student journalists are not bound by the same law.