A passenger has won compensation of £4,000 from Manchester
Airport after his photograph was taken without his permission, in
breach of the Data Protection Act, according to a report by the
Manchester Evening News.
Photographs were taken as passengers on domestic flights passed
through security and used for staff to check the correct passenger
was boarding a flight and to stop domestic passengers buying goods
at duty-free prices.
According to the newspaper, passenger Tim Hedgley complained
that his photograph was taken against his will and therefore in
breach of the Data Protection Act.
After a prolonged battle for an apology, airport bosses made a
payment to settle his claim. Manchester Airport now gives
passengers leaflets that advise them of their right to refuse being
photographed.
Manchester Evening News described it as a landmark payout; but
Shelagh Gaskill, a partner with Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind
OUT-LAW.COM, suggests otherwise.
"There have been much more substantial payouts for breaches of
privacy, but normally you don't hear about them," said Gaskill, a
data protection specialist. "Companies will generally try to avoid
the adverse publicity that can come with a breach of the Data
Protection Act, so a payment will be made conditional upon
confidentiality."
