Max Mosley to sue Google over sex party images

The former F1 boss wants the search engine to block the pictures that were first published in the 'News of the World'

Max Mosley is suing Google for misuse of private information and breaches of the Data Protection Act (PA)

The ex-Formula 1 boss Max Mosley is suing Google for continuing to publish images of him with prostitutes at a sex party.

Mr Mosley, whose father Oswald led the British Union of Fascists in the Thirties, has issued High Court proceedings against the internet search engine, alleging breaches of the Data Protection Act and misuse of private information.

He wants Google to block pictures that were first published in the News of the World, which he successfully sued in 2008. The High Court ruled that the News of the World article was not in the public interest and that the now-closed tabloid was wrong to claim there was a Nazi theme to the sex parties.

Mr Mosley has always maintained that the sessions were harmless, consensual and private.

His lawyers Payne Hicks Beach said the new proceedings, against Google UK and its Californian parent company came after “extensive attempts to persuade Google to resolve the matter outside the courts.

“This is not a case about the 'right to be forgotten' or freedom of speech. Nor does it require Google to act as an arbiter of what is lawful and what is not.

“The High Court has already made that decision in respect of the images concerned. All that Google is being asked to do is to take practical measures to give effect to that decision of the court.”

Mr Mosley, 74, who has already won similar cases in France and Germany, said: “Adherence to the rule of law is essential to any society. This must include compliance with the decisions of the courts.

“As the gateway to the internet Google makes enormous profits and has great influence, so I have not taken this action lightly.

“But Google should operate within the law rather than according to rules it makes itself. It cannot be allowed to ignore judgements in our courts.”

A Google spokeswoman insisted: “We have worked with Mr Mosley to address his concerns and taken down hundreds of URLs [web pages] about which he has notified us.”