Complaint
In a discussion about illegal migration, a Conservative MP claimed that under international law people are expected to claim asylum in the first country they come to. A viewer complained this was untrue and should have been challenged聽 by the presenter.
Outcome
The ECU noted the MP, Jake Berry, was immediately and directly countered on this point by another contributor who explained the Refugee Convention does not say you have to stop in the first safe country. The 大象传媒鈥檚 Editorial Guidelines accept that achieving due accuracy in live content can be challenging, as there may be little opportunity to verify factual claims but demand that where practicable, and particularly if an issue is controversial, content makers should take steps to ensure due accuracy.
Mr Berry鈥檚 assertion about the expectations or requirements placed on asylum seekers under international law was mistaken. However in the ECU鈥檚 view it would have been obvious to viewers that this was his belief and it was not accepted as being true. It was open to the presenter to point out the inaccuracy and it might have been better had she done so, but given the context there was no realistic risk of viewers being materially misled. 聽
Not Upheld