Campbell v MGN [2004] UKHL 22, [2004] 2 AC 457 is one of the most important privacy and media law decisions handed down in recent decades in the common law world. As is well-known, the case established the tort of misuse of private information (MPI) and has been influential in the development of privacy laws across the Commonwealth and further afield. It was itself influenced by similar torts existing in the US, and emergent decisions in New Zealand and Australia.
We are delighted to announce a two-day conference to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this seminal case. The conference will be held in London on 19 and 20 September 2024 at Toynbee Hall (next to Aldgate East underground station). It is generously funded by the Society of Legal Scholars and Matrix Chambers.
Ten years ago, the legacy of Campbell was discussed in a one-day workshop held in Newcastle, with papers subsequently published in a special issue of the Journal of Media Law and an edited collection. The purpose of this year’s ambitious conference is to adopt a broader lens, exploring not just Campbell’s effect on English and Welsh privacy law, but also what the case means within wider social discourse, its impact on adjacent areas such as defamation and data protection and its influence in other jurisdictions. The goal is specifically to approach Campbell and its future through a series of cross-cutting themes, for example unpacking what the case tells us about judicial method and the implications of the decision from a feminist perspective.
The conference is open to academics, practitioners and anyone interested in the decision. We particularly welcome contributions from PhD students and early career researchers, who may not have had the opportunity to form ties with the media law community. It is anticipated that there will be a dedicated PGR/ECR panel in the conference.
It is intended that the contributions will lead to the publication of a special issue of a journal following the conference.
The event will be free to attend, and there will be the option of joining either in-person or online. To facilitate in-person attendance for accepted participants from outside of London, a number of bursaries of approximately £250 will be available to cover reasonable travel and accommodation. Please indicate in your expression of interest whether you would like to apply for a bursary.
If you are interested in contributing to the conference, please send a brief (250 word max) expression of interest, outlining your paper, to Eliza Bechtold (eliza.bechtold@abdn.ac.uk), Jeevan Hariharan (j.hariharan@qmul.ac.uk), and Paul Wragg (P.M.Wragg@leeds.ac.uk) by 15 July 2024. Please include all email addresses.
Please also indicate in your expression of interest: (1) whether you would like to attend in person or join remotely; and (2) whether you would like to apply for a bursary to cover reasonable travel and accommodation expenses.
Please note that the conference will have a limited number of speaker places and travel bursaries available. We will communicate decisions as soon as possible after the deadline.
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