UK Information Commissioner to give talk on privacy rights

Christopher Graham, the UK’s Information Commissioner will be visiting the Coventry to present a special lecture called: ‘Publish or not – the right to privacy versus the right to know’ later this month.

This free event, organised by Coventry University, will take place at the Cathedral Chapter House on Friday 29th June at 6pm.

Christopher GrahamAs the UK Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham gave evidence earlier this year in the Leveson Inquiry, the ongoing public inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press within the UK.

Here he disclosed that efforts to deal with breaches of data protection laws by the press were a “real challenge” but no evidence exists of further violations on the scale of those disclosed as part of Operation Motorman – the investigation into the News of the World phone hacking scandal.

Christopher’s career began at the BBC as a radio and TV journalist and progressed to the role of Secretary of the BBC. Most recently, prior to his current appointment in June 2009, he was director-general of the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority.

John Mair, senior lecturer in journalism at Coventry University, said:  “With Leveson Inquiry clearly altering the journalism landscape, Christopher Graham is a good beacon to guide our search for truth. Plus as a journalist turned regulator, he can offer an interesting perspective from both sides of the journalistic coin.

“I am delighted Christopher is able to share his thoughts, opinions and experiences with us and I know this talk will be unmissable.”