Complaint
A viewer objected to protesting Canadian truck drivers being characterised as opposed to Covid vaccination. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s editorial standards of accuracy.
Outcome
In connection with a report of Sir Keir Starmer being mobbed while walking in Westminster by anti-vaccination protesters displaying the Canadian Flag, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent said “They were actually there with a Canada flag because they're trying to copy rallies that have been happening in Canada, freedom protests that are against the vaccineâ€. This referred to a protest by Canadian truck drivers which had brought traffic in Ottawa to a halt. As the drivers were protesting against the introduction of vaccine passports rather than against vaccination as such, the ECU agreed that the Correspondent’s remark was potentially misleading. In answer to a subsequent question, however, she described the protestors as “opposed to vaccine passportsâ€. In the ECU’s judgement, this satisfied the requirements of accuracy.
Not Upheld