The gradual erosion of the right to privacy

PeteV writes: "There is an interesting article on the BBC website based around research carried out by Dr Kieron O'Hara of Southampton Univeristy. He points out (under british law) that an individuals right to privacy is being eroded by the behaviour of those who have no qualms about broadcasting every intimate detail of their life online (via social networking sites) because the privacy law is predicated in part upon the concept of a "reasonable expectation of privacy" . I think his request "for people to be more aware of the impact on society of what they publish online" is likely to fall on deaf ears, but in effect what he is saying is that the changing habits of the world-wide community of social networkers is likely to have an effect upon english law and how it is interpreted. Given that the significant bulk of social networkers are american, this might be interpreted as "american behaviour" may cause changes in the interpretation of english law (which is not to say english people dont also post their intimate details on Facebook)."