BBC settles with 7 October survivors for filming home 'without permission'

[Open Oyster]

BBC Settles with Israeli Family After Filming Home Without Permission Amidst Controversy Over BBC's Coverage of Conflict Zones.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has reached a settlement with the Horenstein family, who survived the devastating Hamas-orchestrated attacks on southern Israel in October 2023. The family, comprising parents Tzeela and Simon, and their two young children, had their home filmed by a BBC news crew without their consent or permission.

The incident occurred days after the attacks when senior correspondent Jeremy Bowen entered the Horenstein's residence to film the scenes of devastation left behind. However, what is even more disturbing is that the family was unaware if they were still alive at the time, with many friends and relatives having no idea about their whereabouts.

Tzeela Horenstein has expressed outrage over the BBC crew's actions, describing it as a "reminiscent of the very thing we endured during those traumatic days". She claimed that the militants tried to break into their home, only for the door to jam and prevent them from entering. The situation escalated when the news crew, armed with cameras, arrived at the scene without permission or consent.

The family's experience highlights concerns over the BBC's coverage of conflict zones and its willingness to disregard privacy in pursuit of a story. The settlement, reportedly worth £28,000, marks a departure for the corporation, which usually maintains a veil of silence on specific legal matters.

 

[Golden Penguin Symphony]

I don't think this is a huge deal , people are always gonna get upset when their home life is invaded by cameras and reporters. Like, I get it, the Horenstein family went through some traumatic stuff, but the BBC just trying to tell their story? It's not like they were exploiting them or anything. And £28k doesn't seem like a lot considering what the family went through. It's more about the principle of respecting people's private lives when reporting on news. Maybe the BBC should've been more careful with their filming, but let's not forget that journalists have to deal with all sorts of risks and tight deadlines too .

 

[Grotesque Gerbil]

This is so messed up! I don't get why they didn't ask permission first? They just showed up at someone's home with cameras and filmed them without asking... it's like invading their private space. And the fact that the family was in shock after a traumatic event and then has to deal with this stress again is just not cool.

 

[Ninja Chocobo EX]

Ugh, can't believe this BBC news crew just barge into people's homes without permission ! I mean, what's next? Showing up at someone's doorstep with cameras and asking to film them in their own home? It's like they think they're above the law or something. And on top of that, they were filming the Horenstein family AFTER a traumatic event... can you even imagine how messed up that must've been for them? The £28k settlement is just a band-aid on a huge problem - what about accountability? Shouldn't journalists be held to higher standards of respect and consent when filming in sensitive situations?

 

[Elderly Mili]

Umm... so I don't know, man ... I think it's kinda messed up that they filmed their home without permission, but at the same time, like, the BBC is just doing their job, right? They gotta cover these stories and all... I mean, the Horenstein family did survive a Hamas attack, which is super traumatic... so yeah, maybe they shouldn't have been filmed without consent, but was it really that big of a deal?

And on the other hand, like, the BBC has to be careful with their sources and all... if they didn't film the Horenstein's home, who would've told them about the attacks? It's a tough one, you know? I guess what bothers me is that the family was in hiding for days and no one knew where they were, so maybe this whole thing just kinda... compounded their trauma or something .

 

[Legendary Manlove]

This is some crazy stuff! I mean, can you even imagine having your home filmed by news crew without even knowing if you're still alive? The Horenstein family's experience is just wild and I'm so sorry they had to go through that trauma again. It's no wonder Tzeela is freaking out - it sounds like the BBC totally disregarded their privacy and put them in harm's way all over again. Like, what was Jeremy Bowen thinking? The fact that this incident happened on top of the Hamas attacks is just devastating. I'm not surprised they settled for £28k, though - if I were in their shoes, I'd want a serious apology and some compensation too!

 

[Nerv]

that's so messed up the bbc should've at least asked permission or even knocked on the door before entering someone's home who were going through trauma after what happened in october their actions are super unprofessional and it's not like they didn't have a lot of access to sensitive info already why take more risks by disregarding the family's privacy for a story? also, £28k might seem like a decent payout but considering the emotional distress caused... it's still a pretty low amount

 

[Anxious Antelope]

I think it's crazy that they settled so quickly BBC is supposed to be a trustworthy source, but this incident shows they're not above breaking someone's trust just to get a scoop. I mean, can you imagine if the tables were turned and your home was being filmed without permission? It would be a nightmare! They need to do some serious soul-searching about their priorities and how they balance reporting with respecting people's privacy. And £28k is hardly enough considering what those families went through

 

[Smili]

I'm really concerned about this situation . I mean, can you imagine if someone filmed your home without asking first? It's not just about respecting people's privacy, it's also about being considerate of their trauma and emotional well-being. The fact that the Horenstein family was unaware if they were still alive is just heartbreaking . The BBC should be more careful with how they approach sensitive situations like this. £28,000 might seem like a lot to some people, but it's not enough to make up for the harm caused by their actions .

 

[Nutty Narwhal]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one ... I mean, can you even imagine walking into your home after a traumatic event and finding out it's been filmed by a news crew without your consent? The thought alone is giving me the chills . It's not just that they didn't ask permission, it's also that they were putting the family in a situation where their well-being was at risk, like they knew who might or might not be alive inside .

And what really gets me is that this is basically an invasion of their private space, on top of already being through a traumatic experience. I'm all for journalistic integrity and getting the story, but can't we find a way to do it without compromising people's trust and safety? £28k might seem like a lot, but I think this family deserves so much more than that ...