In 2011, here in the UK, Prime Minister David Cameron ordered a judicial public inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press (the so-called ‘Leveson’ inquiry). This followed a series of allegations by people considering themselves to be victims of media intrusion.
One of the victims (a highly successful and respected public figure) had won a court case against the News of the World newspaper which had alleged his involvement in a sex act involving some female prostitutes, on the grounds that it had breached his privacy. In the inquiry, he made it clear that he could not understand why anyone should criticise his actions. ‘I think the law is very clear, and I think it’s quite right, that if it’s private, it’s adult and it’s consensual, then it concerns nobody else.’ He added, ‘it’s a completely old-fashioned idea. It dates from the days when, for example, I was young, where it was illegal to be gay, and all sorts of sexual activities . . . were actually criminal offences . . . and all that’s been changed. The world has moved on . . . the fact is we live in a civilised society where grown-ups in private should be allowed to do what they please.’
If interested, his full statement can be found on: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov. ... -20112.pdf
My questions:
- Should we be free to do what we please?
Are there any boundaries?
Is everyone above criticism?
Do those actions we do in private affect anyone else?
Does it matter that laws concerning moral values can change depending on who is in power?
Do people’s actions bother you?