So some lowlife surreptiously videotapes an ESPN reporter naked in her hotel room and posts the video on the web, and media outlets use the video (with some body parts fuzzed out) while cluck-clucking about what a horrible thing this peeping tom video was.

Reporter Erin Andrews authorized her attorney to release a statement about the events, according to this story from Media Matters:

“While alone in the privacy of her hotel room, Erin Andrews was surreptitiously videotaped without her knowledge or consent. She was the victim of a crime and is taking action to protect herself and help ensure that others are not similarly violated in the future. Although the perpetrator or perpetrators of this criminal act have not yet been identified, when they are identified she intends to bring both civil and criminal charges against them and against anyone who has published the material. We request respect of Erin’s privacy at this time, while she and her representatives are working with the authorities.”

In response to the use of the video, Media Matters reports, “David Pahl, ESPN’s general counsel, said in a written statement to at least one Web site that ‘These pictures were obviously taken through a peephole or otherwise in a fashion constituting a trespass/assault on the rights of the woman involved.

‘Your continued posting of these pictures are highly likely to render you an accessory after the fact to a criminal act. We hereby demand that you (i) immediately remove these pictures from your site and (ii) disclose to us the source of the pictures. We intend to hold you fully responsible for further display of material that so obviously violates the law.’”

What do you think? Should media outlets use clips from this illegally obtained video?