Hack-gate: examining the phone-hacking scandal and its repercussions for press regulation in the UK

Abstract

Patrick Charnley is an associate in the London office of specialist IP firm Bird & Bird LLP.The phone hacking scandal exposed criminal conduct on an industrial scale at The News of the World and forced the paper to close.With police, parliamentary and judicial inquiries underway, the conduct of the press is under intense scrutiny and press regulation in the UK is in the process of being re-cast.This article examines the law relating to undercover investigations by the press, the publication of articles about individuals' private lives, and considers the future of press regulation.