ACMA reviews privacy guidelines following TEN breaches

Two breaches of of the Code of Practice by Channel TEN News has triggered a review of Privacy Guidelines for Broadcasters by the industry regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

On May 3rd 2008 TEN News in Melbourne aired prolonged footaged of a man who had lost his parents in a boat explosion in Port Melbourne. Two people died and others were seriously injured in the incident.

On June 25th TEN Melbourne then reported on a fatal house fire revealing the name of the victim without taking ‘reasonable steps’ to ensure the family had been notified. TEN also breached the complaints-handling process by failing to advise a caller of correct complaints-handling procedures.

ACMA noted that as there were only limited precedents into invasions of privacy it will now review its Privacy Guidelines for Broadcasters and places all television licensees on notice about the concept of privacy.

Following the June 25 broadcast the president of the Crimes Victims’ Support Association spoke to TEN journalists about the impact of interviews with bereaved relatives, survivors or witnesses of traumatic incidents.

In addition, TEN has advised the ACMA that it will coordinate a training session for TEN’s news department in Melbourne and distribute the materials to interstate news departments and report the training to ACMA.

In light of these steps, and in addition to its Privacy review, ACMA does not intend to take further action at this stage.

Source: ACMA