A father who complained about a privacy breach when a television programme identified his son has had his complaint upheld by the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
Prime Television's current affairs programme 60 Minutes screened 'Mother's Difficulties' after the accidental death of the 18-month-old younger son.
The older son was identified and his full name accompanied by photos and footages were shown in the episode. He was also linked with details of his mother's drug addiction and prostitution.
The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) concluded that this information was private, its disclosure was highly offensive and the boy's identification was not necessary.
It also found the programme failed to have the best interests on the child, even if the mother had given consent.
"Children should be seen as individuals in their own right and not as attachments to their parents. We do not consider in this case that the broadcasts were in keeping with the best interests of [the child] … A cautious and sensitive approach could have been taken, and in our view, ought to have been taken," the BSA concluded.
Although the BSA recognised the value and public interest in this story, it outweighed need to protect the son.
Freedom of expression needed to be weighed with other rights, especially if children were involved, it concluded.
"In our society and in our law, when there are clashes between rights and when included amongst the rights in clash are the rights of children, the rights of children almost always prevail.
"Children are especially vulnerable. They cannot protect themselves and societies have the most powerful of obligations and reasons to look after their children who are their future," the BSA said.
