View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
March 25, 2013

Mail Online sued over ‘voyeuristic’ photos of Paul Weller’s children

By William Turvill

The Mail Online has been accused of featuring “plainly voyeuristic” photographs of singer Paul Weller’s children.

Six photographs, featured under the headline “A family day out … Paul Weller takes wife Hannah and his twin sons out for a spot of shopping in the hot LA sun”, have been complained about by the Wellers.

Through law firm Clintons, the family are seeking unlimited damages, compensation and an injunction barring further use of the photographs.

The photographs, showing Dylan, John-Paul and Bowie Weller “enjoying private time with their father”, have now been removed from the website along with the article. It was originally published on the website on 21 October last year.

A High Court claim form said the website had been guilty of a breach of confidence, an unjustified infringement of privacy and a misuse of private information.

While it acknowledges that Weller is a professional musician, it claims that “he is not a public figure in any sense” and that “he has sought to avoid publicity in the media for his young family”.

It claims that Weller was not at first aware of the photographs being taken and that when he found out he objected.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

The claim form says: “The fact that some of them were taken without [Weller’s] knowledge, and by use of a long-lens camera, is also evident from the pictures themselves.”

It says: "The photographs are plainly voyeuristic, seeking to intrude upon the claimants' private lives, and in particular cherished moments which they are sharing with their father and each other, and which are an integral part of their development."

Weller objected to the fact that, once published, the photographs left his children “readily identifiable”.

 

Press Gazette understands Mail Online publisher Associated Newspapers is contesting the claim.

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network