Mosley appeal over bid to change privacy laws fails

HUMAN rights judges have rejected an appeal by former Formula One boss Max Mosley against his failed bid to force a change in UK privacy laws.

In May, a seven-judge panel of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg threw out his demand for tougher laws forcing newspapers to warn people before exposing their private lives. That would have a “chilling effect” on journalism, the judges warned. Now a five-judge panel of the court’s Grand Chamber has turned down his application for an appeal, saying the May judgment is final.

Mr Mosley said yesterday: The decision of the European Court of Human Rights in May, which is now final, was made at a time when every British paper was attacking privacy law.

“Only now are we beginning to understand the extent to which personal privacy was routinely invaded by the News of the World and the consequences of such behaviour.”

Mr Mosley – son of former British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley – won a case in the High Court in 2008, in a ruling declaring that there was no justification for a front-page article and pictures in the News of the World about his meeting with five prostitutes in a London flat. He was awarded £60,000 in damages.