Channel 5 must pay evicted Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away couple £20,000 after violating privacy

Channel 5 must pay evicted Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away couple £20,000 after violating privacy

Postby dutchman » Fri Feb 23, 2018 4:29 pm

The episode was watched 9.65 million times

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Channel 5 has been ordered to pay £20,000 in damages after being found to have violated privacy in an episode of Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away.

Shakar Ali and Shahida Aslam, from Barking in East London, were shown being evicted from their home after falling behind on their rent. The episode in question aired on Channel 5 channels a total of 36 times despite Ali requesting for the footage not to be broadcast on television.

The footage was recorded by High Court officers wearing body cameras in addition to a TV crew – and in total, the episode was watched 9.65 million times (including repeat viewers).

Channel 5 argued that the scenes were in the public interest, stating that they were "the best way to engage the public and stimulate debate".

But the judge ruled in favour of the evicted couple, saying that the violation in privacy had caused unreasonable distress.

"The focus of the programme was not upon the matters of public interest, but upon the drama of the conflict," he said (via The Guardian). "The programme did contribute to a debate of general interest, but I consider the inclusion of the claimants' private information went beyond what was justified for that purpose."

Channel 5 released a statement after the ruling.

"Channel 5 welcomes the judge's assessment, which recognises that the programme is made in good faith and in the public interest," it read.

"We are encouraged by the judge's acceptance that Channel 5's editorial discretion extended to the presentation of the story, the tone of the programme and the material included, providing a fair and accurate account of the eviction of the claimants.

"We also note that the case's final verdict was based on the specific facts related to a segment involving the Ali family and not the series in general."


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