Claims of Intrusion into Birth Records and Medical Information
Privacy Lawsuit Reaches Final Stage
Elton John, the singer who represents British pop music, has complained of having his privacy violated, saying that news of his son’s birth was reported in the media before he even received the birth certificate. Elton John testified in court that such reporting caused extreme psychological distress to himself and his family.
According to the BBC on the 6th (local time), Elton John appeared remotely at a hearing at the High Court in London in connection with a privacy lawsuit he has filed, together with Prince Harry, actress Elizabeth Hurley, and others, against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of the British tabloid the Daily Mail.
Elton John and his husband, film producer David Furnish, argued that “the most private moments of our family were exposed without any filter” and that they had “experienced the worst that an invasion of privacy can bring about.”
The lawsuit covers 10 articles published between 2002 and 2015. One of the key issues is the reporting in 2010, when they had their first son, Zachary, via a surrogate mother.
Elton John’s side claims that before they officially received the birth certificate, the outlet reported the birth by releasing a copy of the relevant document.
Sharp confrontation over whether illegal newsgathering took place
The plaintiffs argue that ANL obtained information through unlawful means such as phone tapping, hacking, and the illegal acquisition of documents, while ANL counters that it gathered information only through legitimate channels, including tips from acquaintances and publicly available materials.
ANL’s legal team explained that the article on Zachary’s birth was also written based on information obtained from previous reporting, local registration authorities, and agencies related to surrogacy. However, Elton John emphasized that he had kept his son’s birth strictly secret and that he had maintained “military-operation-level” security measures to prevent any external exposure.
Another issue in dispute is a 2009 report that Elton John had halted his tour due to health problems. ANL claims that the article was based on an online statement released by Elton John’s side at the time, but Elton John counters that the statement did not include any specific details of his illness.
In a written statement submitted to the court, Elton John said, “The fact that my newborn child and I, while I was ill, became targets of the press was a devastating experience for me and David.” He went on to sharply criticize the conduct, saying, “The intrusion into medical information and records related to the birth of a newborn baby seriously undermined basic human dignity.”
In this trial, a total of seven plaintiffs, beginning with Prince Harry last month and including Elton John, have completed their testimony in turn, and the court is expected to conclude the hearings next month.
Meanwhile, Elton John and Furnish became legal partners after the introduction in 2005 of the civil partnership system in the United Kingdom, which recognizes the legal union of same-sex couples. Shortly after entering into the partnership, the two attempted to adopt a child overseas, but the effort fell through due to legal restrictions. They later had their first son via a surrogate mother in 2010, and in 2013 they welcomed their second son, also via a surrogate, in Los Angeles, California, in the United States.
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