Privacy and misuse of private information

Privacy law in the UK comprises several elements:

1. •

   the right to a private and family life provided for in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), incorporated into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA 1998)

2. •

   the tort of misuse of private information, which protects citizens from unwarranted intrusion (Campbell v MGN), and

3. •

   provisions dealing with the protection of privacy in the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (PHA 1997)

There is no single, overarching right to privacy in English law. However, the HRA 1998 and the incorporation of Article 8 of the ECHR into domestic law mean that aspects of private life can be protected from unwarranted intrusion.

Brexit

Assimilated law is the name given to retained EU law (REUL) which remains in force after the end of 2023. The re-categorisation of REUL (and associated terms) to assimilated law reflects a change in its status and treatment under UK law, in that it is generally to be interpreted according to ordinary domestic law and principles.

From 1 January