BBC objects to Twitter’s ‘government-funded media’ label | Science & Tech News

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The BBC has objected to being labelled as “government-funded media” on Twitter.

The company stated it had contacted Twitter after the label was added to the primary BBC account.

Twitter proprietor Elon Musk responded to the criticism, asking: “Is the Twitter label correct?”

Twitter screengrab showing BBC as 'Government Funded Media'
Picture:
The BBC’s Twitter account was labelled ‘Authorities Funded Media’

Musk later emailed the BBC, saying: “We’re aiming for optimum transparency and accuracy. Linking to possession and supply of funds most likely is smart.

“I do suppose media organisations must be self-aware and never falsely declare the entire absence of bias.

“All organisations have bias, some clearly way more than others.”

He added: “I ought to observe that I observe BBC Information on Twitter, as a result of I feel it’s among the many least biased.”

The broadcaster stated it was chatting with Twitter in regards to the designation, saying in a press release: “The BBC is, and at all times has been, unbiased.

“We’re funded by the British public by means of the licence payment.”

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The label on the BBC account hyperlinks to a web page on Twitter’s assist centre which describes “state-affiliated media” as retailers the place the federal government “workout routines management over editorial content material by means of monetary sources, direct or oblique political pressures, and/or management over manufacturing and distribution”.

The label was additionally utilized to US broadcaster NPR’s Twitter, however it has been modified to government-funded media – the identical because the BBC account.

BBC breaking information and sport accounts not labelled

The BBC has at all times maintained its impartiality and it operates by means of a Royal Constitution agreed with the federal government which says it “should be unbiased”.

Britons pay a £159 yearly licence payment to fund the company’s output. The determine is ready by the federal government however paid by particular person households.

Whereas the primary BBC account, which has 2.2 million followers, has been given the label, a lot bigger accounts related to the company’s breaking information and sport output weren’t.

The account largely tweets about BBC-produced TV programmes, radio reveals, podcasts and different non-news materials.

It comes after Twitter removed The New York Times’s blue verification tick from its account.

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