Why the BBC's suspended presenter is entitled to privacy

Despite widespread speculation on social media and messaging apps, media outlets have not named the male BBC presenter who allegedly spent £35,000 on explicit photographs from a young person. The BBC director general has stated that individuals are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy during investigations, and sources at the broadcaster have said there is no plan to name the presenter. The legal risk of linking a prominent person to serious allegations has stopped mainstream news outlets from putting the name in the public domain. This is due to the growing shift towards privacy in the English and Welsh legal system, where judges increasingly prioritise the rights of an individual over the media's right to report intrusive details. 

The article quotes Hanna Basha, a partner at the law firm Payne Hicks Beach who said that judges aim to balance the reputation of the individual and the public’s right to know but tend to recognise the privacy of suspects in investigations unless the public interest in naming the individual is overwhelming. This is in order that people have the ability to rebuild their lives should the allegations be found to be baseless.

In contrast, an article in The Times (£) is critical of UK privacy laws, which they claim are compounding the social media frenzy in the BBC's latest presenter scandal. Such laws have resulted in uncertainty about what can and cannot be reported, leading to wild speculation and false allegations being spread on social media. The need for informed and accurate reporting, which is in the public interest, has become more vital than ever.