Elon Musk’s Twitter dubs BBC as ‘government-funded media’, broadcaster objects
Elon Musk-owned Twitter described the British broadcaster BBC as “government-funded media” on its profile page.
Twitter designated the media house as one which is state-financed but with editorial independence in its policy. Shortly afterwards, the BBC objected to Twitter’s label, saying it worked towards “public services” through licence fees.
Risking a row with the UK-based media house, Twitter defined the concept as, “State-financed media organisations with editorial independence, like the BBC in the UK or NPR in the US for example, are not defined as state-affiliated media for the purposes of this policy.”
In its policy, Twitter enumerated how the label was different from “state-affiliated media”, stating the latter does not have content independence and the government exercised rights over the editorial. Twitter designated the BBC as “government-funded media” which is state-financed but with editorial independence.
Twitter, by the way, included America-based NPR as a government-funded media house in its policy section.
Taking aim at The New York Times recently, Twitter and Tesla owner Elon Musk tweeted, “The real tragedy of the New York Times is that their propaganda isn’t even interesting.”
While critics rebut the billionaire businessman’s take on media houses and his tweets bashing them, netizens were even intrigued by his take on the subject.
BBC OBJECTS TO TWITTER LABEL
The BBC objected to the new label on one of its main Twitter handles. The corporation said it was in talks with the social media company to “resolve the issue as soon as possible”.
Issuing a statement, the BBC said, “The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee.”
It may be noted that the $197 annual licence fee is required by British laws to watch live television broadcasts or streaming in the UK. It is a regulation set by the government and residents of UK households pay the amount to avail of the services.