BSA: 60 Minutes' disclosure 'highly offensive'

The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) concluded the information shown was private and unnecessary. Photo / Getty

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 broadcast Mother's Difficulties after the accidental death of a woman's 18-month-old younger son.

Her older son was identified and his full name, accompanied by photos and footage, were shown in the episode.

The boy was also linked with details of his mother's drug addiction and prostitution.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) concluded this information was private, its disclosure was highly offensive and it wasn't necessary to identify the boy.

It also found the programme failed to act in the best interests of 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.

The BSA recognised the value and public interest in the story but said that was outweighed by the need to protect the son.

Freedom of expression needed to be weighed against 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 concluded.