Complaint
The ECU investigated concerns raised about the behaviour of a film crew commissioned by the BBC to interview an individual about their social media activity and images of cruelty to cats. The complainant argued their privacy had been breached in the making of the film. The ECU considered whether the BBC had met the relevant standards set out in the BBC Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The Editorial Guidelines on Privacy make clear “any infringement of an individual's privacy without their consent must be justified by demonstrating that the intrusion is outweighed by the public interest.” The ECU considered the nature of the investigation, that someone had been posting images of tortured cats online, justified the gathering of information about the complainant for journalistic purposes. Having reviewed a recording of an attempt to interview the complainant, it also found no evidence to support a claim that they were physically threatened.
The ECU agreed, however, that it was inappropriate and a breach of standards that the film crew failed to disclose the approach was on behalf of the BBC and that the complainant was told by one of the crew via an intercom that they were a real estate agent.
The ECU understood a request to carry out a doorstep interview had been approved by the BBC’s Editorial Policy team, but that the crew, which was assigned to do this, failed to follow specific directions. An email briefing the team required them to say: “We are working for the BBC. We want to ask you about the videos you post online of cats being tortured”.
The BBC did not broadcast any part of the interview.
Partly Upheld
Further action
The finding was reported to the management of BBC News and discussed with the relevant team
