BBC accused of ‘spying’ after nearly 150 staff emails accessed or monitored

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jan/14/bbc-spying-staff-emails-accessed-monitored

Version 0 of 1.

The BBC has been accused of “spying” on its own staff after it was revealed that nearly 150 staff email accounts were accessed or monitored over the past two years.

In response to a Freedom of Information request from the Press Gazette, the BBC said 37 staff email accounts had been monitored because of leak investigations in 2013 and 2014. Other staff accounts had been looked into as a result of a variety of complaints and inquiries, including allegations of fraud, assault, harassment and disciplinary cases.

Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, said: “The BBC has previously denied any significant monitoring of staff email accounts, and only in criminal or disciplinary investigations, but these figures cast doubt on that explanation and the NUJ will work with our network of reps to get to the bottom of the kind of spying that has been taking place.

“It is revealing that when faced with media coverage of important issues such as bullying and harassment or executive excess, some BBC managers have reacted with disproportionate anger and a keen desire to establish the source of what they see as ‘leaks’ rather than spend their time and energy sorting out the real problems that exist in our public service broadcaster.”

The BBC told Press Gazette that it “rarely monitors staff email accounts and only in exceptional circumstances where it is reasonable, necessary and represents a proportionate response”.

It added: “In the rare occasion, such as in relation to criminal, data security or disciplinary investigations, where it is deemed necessary to monitor an email the BBC has in place a formal process that must be followed by the BBC Investigation Service.”

The FOI request by Press Gazette revealed that 148 staff email accounts were accessed or monitored across the two-year period.

In 2013 a total of 46 accounts were monitored including 10 in relation to information leaks, rising to 56 in 2014, including 27 in relation to alleged leaks. Another 46 email accounts were accessed over the two years.

The NUJ has previously accused the BBC of “hacking staff emails and bullying employees into spying on colleagues”.

But the union apologised in December 2013 over allegations it made against the BBC’s then head of human resources Lucy Adams, saying it “did not intend to suggest Adams … led a dirty tricks campaign or that there was any criminal activity on her part whatsoever.”.

The BBC said: “There are strict guidelines in place covering when access is permissible. The BBC very rarely monitors staff email accounts and only as a last resort where exceptional circumstances indicate criminal activity or disciplinary behaviour meaning it is a justifiable, necessary and proportionate action.”

• To contact the MediaGuardian newsdesk email media@theguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly “for publication”.

• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook.