The Supreme Court has found in favour of PJS, ruling that the rich and powerful can hide their misdemeanours from public knowledge. Farcically, Judge Mance concluded that PJS is “likely to be granted a permanent injunction notwithstanding the internet and social media publication” – despite admitting that anyone can access the information online, the judge has decided it is illegal to publish in print. The judge describes how PJS’s “solicitors have been doing their best to remove offending URLs and web pages”, well whatever he says they have demonstrably failed. He talks of how coverage on the internet has been “restricted“. He is asking for Chinese-style restrictions of what you can read online in England…

Lord Toulson disagreed with the other judges on the panel, arguing:

“that where the information is widely available, the form of the publication should not make a significant difference”

He is of course correct, but was outvoted by his fellow judges. The internet has made an ass of the law…

The ruling specifically excludes those in public office from the privacy protections. So it is still open season on politicians…