Identifying victims of sexual harassment in the age of #MeToo: Time for the media to prioritise a victim’s right to privacy

Abstract

This article explores the practice of the media to unreasonably intrude on victims' privacy in Australia by reference to three women whose sexual harassment grievances were published by the media without their consent. This article argues that the protection of a victim’s privacy is a fundamental human right which should trump competing public interest considerations in the Australian context. In the absence of an established tort of privacy or bill or charter of human rights in Australia, the media must apply ethical journalism standards and abstain from identifying victims of sexual harassment without their consent.