ACA slapped for privacy breach

TCN9 has been slapped by the the Australian Communications and Media Authority after it ruled a 2005 story on A Current Affair breached the Code of Practice for broadcasting material that invaded the privacy of a child.

The story which looked at truancy amongst school children didn’t trigger a complaint to ACMA until July 2007.

The segment featured footage of the complainant’s twelve year old son at home and in a skate park, as well as an interview with the complainant and with other children.

ACMA ruled the programme did not exercise special care before using material relating to a child’s personal affairs and that there was no public interest for the material to be broadcast.

ACA last breached the Code in July 2007 for not providing a fair representation of viewpoints.

Under David Gyngell, Nine has since undertaken to implement a number of new procedures and in the response to its latest breach will include obtaining formal written consent where a story involves children. It will also explore other measures to mask the identity of children and address staff training.

ACMA noted Nine’s last breach of the privacy provisions of the code occurred three and a half years ago and did not involve footage of children, and said steps to be taken by Nine are evidence of better practice in the industry, which “it commends to all broadcasters.”

Source: ACMA