I have a friend who was involved in a major news story in the Seattle area, and not only did they print/broadcast personal details, they were repeatedly mistaken.
My understanding is that this is quite typical.
Your point about "Peter" may very well be correct (that he would have no problem with the way he was characterized in the article), but I think you might be giving the media too much credit.
Having a tad of a journalism background, it is my understanding that quotes must be attributed and verified. That doesn't mean they always are, but not doing so could put them in a vulnerable position. Some seemingly personal details are a matter of public record, as in a court trial. Which is why I made the assumption, and I assure you it is not a matter of crediting the media, far be it from me. But if someone I knew gave a story like this to the media and attributed quotations to me that either I did not say or did not want printed, not spoken in a public venue, there would be consequences.