RTS contribution via bank was correct overall
The reports published by Radio-Télévision Suisse Romande (RTS) about a bank were in compliance with the law. The Federal Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by the financial institution. The bank was accused of hiring a company to remove negative information about it from the Internet.
The RTS published published an article on its website in February 2023in which it was reported that Compagnie Bancaire Helvétique (CBH) had commissioned an online reputation company to cover its tracks on the Internet. In particular, this involved reprimands from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) for failing to combat money laundering.
This was the conclusion reached by a consortium of journalists to which RTS belongs. The company commissioned by CBH is said to have hired another company to eliminate dozens of websites and threaten a Venezuelan journalist who had been researching corruption in her country. This is the result of a ruling by the Federal Court published on Wednesday.
Distorted quote
Two days after the online article, the topic was taken up again in the "Mise au point" program. In both cases, the bank's position was presented by RTS. A lawyer specializing in digital media also had his say.
The CBH turned to the Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television (UBI). Despite a distorted quote from the lawyer in the article, this body found that RTS had largely complied with its obligations with regard to program content.
The Federal Supreme Court confirms this conclusion. However, it criticizes a quote attributed to the lawyer in the online article. He formulated working hypotheses in the film report. In the online report, however, the RTS put a formulation in his mouth in which he speaks of considerable risks for the bank in relation to the legal standards. (SDA/swi)
This article refers to the judgment "2C_142/2024" of September 27, 2024.
