Introduction
User generated content has become an essential part of BBC storytelling across the entire output. It plays a central role in most breaking news stories, but it is equally important in many other non-News output – including Children's.
It can be still pictures, video or comment; it can be sent directly by users following specific calls to action or be found by searching for it on social media platforms and the wider web.
Whatever content the BBC uses, regardless of how it is received, must adhere to the BBC Editorial Guidelines and standards. Content being widely shared or trending on social media may not necessarily make it appropriate for use; its editorial justification and purpose should be considered first.
Verification
It should not be assumed that any user generated content – whether found on the web or received directly from the audience – is always what it claims to be. It may be fake, it may be genuine footage but of a different incident, it may be just part of the incident or taken from one perspective.
In News, in particular, where UGC can play an important part in our output, the BBC must always authenticate any content before it is used. This might include anything from speaking to the individual who filmed the content to using a range of more sophisticated techniques such as geo-location and cross-referencing satellite imagery to interrogate the image itself.
The more significant the image is, the more important it is to ensure it is authentic – although the responsibility for due accuracy remains regardless. Advice on verifying any UGC can be obtained from the UGC Hub.
In a non-News environment, content producers might ask audience members to send in videos of themselves undertaking particular activities, or they might source similar content from the social web. Producers still have a responsibility to ensure the accuracy of that content before using it, but that might be ascertained in a simple conversation.
Range of Perspectives
Audiences should be provided with the relevant information to understand the events within their context, beyond the selective and narrow perspective which UGC may particularly offer. This may include details about the circumstances leading to the incident and its consequences. Nonetheless, BBC content producers should be open and honest about what they do not know or cannot corroborate.
The Editorial Guidelines state:
Care must be taken with content that may have been supplied by anyone with a vested interest, rather than a disinterested bystander. (3.4.10)
On highly controversial subjects, some views may be more likely than others to be expressed via UGC or be amplified on social media platforms. The existence of other views and their respective weights should be acknowledged and appropriately reflected.
Where content producers ask audiences on social media to share their views or observations, they should be aware of the serendipitous nature of social media that means people may only come across the calls to action by chance.
Consent and Credit
Where content producers are considering using significant content found on social media – such as video of a breaking news event – they should always seek to secure the consent of the owner of the material, even if a Fair Dealing use might be argued.
The BBC would not normally pay for the use of such material, other than in exceptional circumstances but producers should be aware of copyright or other legal issues and take appropriate advice when necessary.
The owner of the material, wherever and whenever it is used – should always be credited, unless to do so might put the contributor at risk. Any link to the source must be editorially justified, rather than merely being considered as a credit.
(See guidance: Links and Feeds)
Consent may not always be required to use material when there is a public interest in doing so. However, careful consideration should always be given to the wider editorial justification and the impact of using UGC on a BBC platform that is already being shared extensively on social media.
Comment, tweets or posts to BBC channels or otherwise open spaces may be used without the explicit consent of the individual authors. That is particularly the case when individuals are taking part in a public debate or it is clear they understand and are participating in the open nature of social media.
Similarly, it is reasonable to use appropriate pictures of individuals taken from their open social media profiles without explicit consent when it is in the public interest. However, potential distress to family and friends should be carefully considered when using pictures of individuals who have died.
Privacy
Even though content may have been posted to social media platforms that have a potential global audience of billions, it is still necessary to consider whether the use of the material respects the privacy of those featured.
If the content is filmed openly in a public or even semi-public space then the presumption would generally be that it would be reasonable for the BBC to use. This may still be the case even where the subject is not aware they are being filmed provided there is a public interest. For example, it could be video of vehicle drivers using their mobile phones or other examples of anti-social or illegal behaviour.
However, if the content features individuals who might otherwise have a legitimate expectation of privacy, for example if they are receiving medical treatment, or where they are in a private space or the content was clearly not intended for public consumption, respect for their privacy should be maintained - unless a public interest in bringing the material to the audience.
It may be appropriate to consider anonymising individuals featured where there remains a public interest in using the material.
Where the BBC has asked for contributions from audiences, content producers should act in accordance with data protection laws in handling personal information and take appropriate advice.
Duty of Care
The BBC should never encourage individuals to break the law or put themselves in danger. It should not normally use material sourced from social media where it is clear individuals have put themselves at unnecessary risk.
It should be made clear that contributors should continue to act in the way they would normally do regardless of the fact that they may be creating content that the BBC might use. They should never be encouraged or even 'given permission' to undertake activities they would not normally undertake. This is particularly the case when working with contributors producing longer form personal view or eyewitness content.
In breaking news stories, the BBC should be co-ordinated and considerate in approaching individuals on social media for both their consent to use their material and to request any further contribution to the BBC output. It maybe they are still caught up in the incident or dealing with the consequences of it.
Children and Young People
Children should not be routinely asked to act as newsgatherers for the BBC, but they may be asked to submit content for creative projects or competitions on CBBC or other appropriate outlets.
Where children under 13 have been asked to send content directly, the BBC should use its own uploader, where parents have already given permissions for their child to upload content and will notify them every time content is submitted. Where content submitted to the BBC features other children under 13 parental consent must be sought.
Where children or young people are featured in content found on social media that is being considered for use, the impact on them should be taken into account.
Any online safeguarding concerns that are discovered, whether related to online grooming or child abuse images, must be referred to the Head of Safeguarding and Child Protection immediately.