Defenses to privacy torts include which of the following?

• A. Consent to all four privacy torts
• B. Newsworthiness as a defense to false light and disclosure
• C. Both A and B
• D. None of the above

Answer: (C)

Defenses to privacy torts include consent and newsworthiness. If the person consented to the publication or intrusion, there’s no tort liability because the act was authorized by the plaintiff. That defense applies across the privacy torts—intrusion upon seclusion, public disclosure of private facts, false light, and appropriation of name or likeness—since consent negates the wrongful act.

Newsworthiness serves as a defense specifically to the publications-based privacy torts: false light and public disclosure of private facts. When the information is of legitimate public concern and presented in a newsworthy way, the compelled or sensational disclosure may be protected, even if it would otherwise be embarrassing or harmful. This recognizes the public interest in reporting on matters of general significance and can defeat liability for false light or for disclosing private information.

Since both consent and newsworthiness are recognized defenses, the best answer is that both apply.