A Current Affair breaches privacy rule
A Current Affair has breached the Code of Practice in its investigation into the business dealings of former swimmer Neil Brooks.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
The media watchdog has ruled A Current Affair has breached the Commercial Television Code of Practice on the grounds of privacy and accuracy, during its investigation into the business dealings of former swimmer Neil Brooks.
In the March 2011 report by Amanda Patterson, Brooks was alleged to have defrauded a number of Australians. Patterson travelled to France to confront Brooks on the claims. Brooks has since threatened legal action over the story.
The first breach on accuracy was in relation to a statement from Patterson’s narration: “As we go to air tonight police in France, the United States and Australia are all investigation allegations of fraud against the Brooks.”
But the Australian Communications and Media Authority ruled ACA had insufficient evidence to support this claim.
More seriously, ACMA found that the licensee breached the privacy provisions of the code. It ruled that when ACA showed the international driver’s licence of Brooks’ wife Linda, it revealed her name, place of birth, date of birth and address in France.
It also found a breach regarding complaints-handling. While networks are not required to respond to complaints when they are the subject of legal proceedings, Brooks had not yet commenced legal action.
However, ACMA found that the bulk of complaints about the story did not involve a breach of the ‘accuracy’ obligations either because they were not ‘factual material’ or because evidence provided by Nine and the complainant were inconclusive.
Nine’s response to the breaches is fleeting: it will acknowledge them on their webpage.
ACMA says it has already conducted training on its complaints-handling obligations.
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7 Responses
“ACA showed the international driver’s licence of Brooks’ wife Linda, it revealed her name, place of birth, date of birth and address in France.”
No harm done. The average ACA viewer can’t read and besides, they wouldn’t have a clue where France is.
The ACMA have nothing else better to do
ACMA must be nearly out of limp lettuce leaves by now. They’ll have to start punishing networks by hitting them with watercress instead.
Slap on the wrist and told you are a very naughty channel now go sit in the corner for 5 mins and behave yourself and move on.
Showing address details is not new for ACA. I remember two years ago they did a story about a nice young guy living alone in a unit in Sydney who had a high electricity bill. They showed the bill with his full name and address. I freeze-framed it and wrote down the address and was just about to contact him and ask if I could come around. I decided not to because I thought he might be straight.
Wow, stiff justice again from ACMA.
The most disgusting show on television. No morals no standards. Goes for the kill with out having all the facts. The truth is never important on ACA and will never get in the way of a good story.It really is pathetic television. Howpeople watch this garbage is beyond me. What angers me even more is nine response a correction will go on thier website who the hell looks at their website.