Speaker
Hugh Tomlinson QC, Matrix Chambers
Abstract
The information torts have, traditionally, been dealt with by practitioners in separate, watertight categories. Privacy has largely been concerned with sex, libel with falsity and data protection has often been an after-thought. This has partly been due to practitioner conservatism and partly to the different approaches to remedies under the different torts. The position is beginning to change. Partly due to the pressure of the Article 8 positive obligation the boundaries between the information torts are now becoming blurred with "false privacy" and "inaccurate data" claims encroaching onto the territory of libel law and data protection claims (now, post Vidal-Hall attracting general damages) spreading far and wide. It is likely that this convergence will continue - particularly in the area of remedies - but that the torts will remain separate and retain at least some of their distinctive features. Practitioners will continue to seek to push the boundaries to provide remedies in particular cases.
About the speaker
Hugh Tomlinson QC is one of the leading practitioners in media and information law. He has appeared in many of the most important and innovative cases in recent years including Clift v Slough BC, Mosley v Google, PJS v News Group Newspapers and Vidal-Hall v Google. He is currently representing five and half million iPhone users in the Lloyd v Google Inc, the first "opt out" data protection action to be brought in the English Courts. He has a wide-ranging practice in both private and public law. His practice also includes advisory work and litigation in the freedom of information field. He is joint author of the leading practitioner texts on the law of human rights and on civil actions against the police and has, most recently edited Online Publication Claims: A Practical Guide.
For further information please contact CIPIL Administrator, Mr. James Parish jprp2@cam.ac.uk
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