are many instances in which it is difficult to draw a sharp line to
distinguish acts of individuals that are within the private sphere and
those that are within the public sphere. Even if the partial
unconstitutionality decision were to be rendered, there would still be a
possibility that a chilling effect would result from the vagueness between
alleging “facts that amount to secrecy of private life” and alleging “facts
that do not amount to secrecy of private life.”
(e) Taking all of the above considerations together––namely, the need
for protection of the right to personality concerning the reputation of an
individual; that there is no less restrictive alternative that would serve
the same legislative purpose as the Provision at Issue; that the
restrictions on freedom of expression are minimized by the ground for
justification under Article 310 of the Criminal Act as well as by the
Court’s and the Supreme Court’s constructions and application of that
ground for justification; that if a decision of partial unconstitutionality
were rendered, there would be a possibility that the vagueness of “facts
that amount to secrecy of private life” would lead to a new chilling
effect––the least restrictive means prong is also satisfied.
3. Balance of interests
Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees, in Section (1), freedom of
expression, but at the same time prescribes, in Section (4), that neither
the press nor any publication shall violate the honor or rights of other
persons, thereby declaring the “honor or rights of other persons” as a
limit to freedom of expression. Since true facts are the foundation of
healthy debate and discussion, the members of society should be
guaranteed free expression of those facts; yet, if defamatory statements
against a specific person are indiscriminately permitted only by reason of
the truthfulness of those statements, the reputation and personality of
individuals may not be properly protected.
- 13 -