Covert research permissible in the case of "conspiracy theorists
An undercover investigation by the French-speaking Swiss news portal Heidi.news into a movement of "conspiracy theorists" does not violate journalistic ethics. This is the conclusion of the Swiss Press Council in a statement published on Friday.
The undercover research was permissible because the topic was of predominant public interest and certain information could not have been obtained in any other way. The "Declaration of the Duties and Rights of Journalists" considers undercover information gathering to be a legitimate means of research under these circumstances.
The Press Council justified its decision by stating that the reporting from inside a movement of so-called conspiracy theorists was of predominant public interest, especially in connection with the pandemic and the existence of similar groups abroad. In addition, without the undercover work of Heidi.news, part of the information provided by the report could not have been made available to the public.
The Press Council had received two complaints about the report published in the fall of 2020 with the title "Au coeur de la complosphère". In the eight parts, the life of a group of followers of so-called conspiracy theories in western Switzerland was described.
Identity veiled
The journalist had hidden his true identity from his interlocutors. For example, he falsified various elements of his biography. The action in the summer of 2020 lasted almost two months.
Jean-Luc Addor, SVP National Councilor for the Valais, believed that this research violated the professional ethics of journalists. He described the work as "democratically disturbing", especially with regard to the protection of privacy. A teacher mentioned in the report had also appealed to the Press Council. (SDA)
