Twitter labels BBC as “government-funded media”

Media reported that Elon Musk’s characterization of the BBC as “government-funded media” sparked a dispute between the two parties; however, the BBC was fast to push back against the characterization.

BBC, PBS, NPR, and Voice of America, as well as other media outlets that receive some government funding, now bear the label. It does not appear on other government-backed outlets, such as the CBC in Canada or Al Jazeera in Qatar.

Currently, the 2,2 million-follower @BBC account is designated as government-funded. Media reported that the label was not assigned to the BBC’s other accounts, including BBC News (World) and BBC Breaking News.

Twitter has not provided a definition of what it considers to be “government-funded media.”

In a statement provided to media, the BBC stated, “We are in communication with Twitter to resolve this issue as quickly as feasible. The BBC has always been an independent organization. The British public finances us through the license fee.”

BBC is primarily funded by license fees paid by British households, which are also required to view non-BBC channels or live services. This is supplemented by earnings from business operations.

Musk changed NPR’s designation to “state-affiliated media,” which implied that the US government could influence its editorial policy and compared it to outlets such as Russia Today, which is funded by the Kremlin.

Media reported that the label was changed to “government-funded media” following backlash from NPR, which said it would not tweet from the account while the label was in effect.

Even the White House responded negatively to Twitter’s label, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating, “There is no doubt about the independence of NPR’s journalists.”

Some of NPR’s funding comes from public institutions, but the overwhelming majority comes from corporate sponsorships and membership fees.

Twitter defines state-affiliated media outlets as outlets “where the state exercises control over editorial content via financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or production and distribution control.”

Also read this:Ukraine’s 1st Dy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova to visit India on 9th AprThe medial reported that Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s other companies, Tesla and SpaceX, have received billions of dollars in government funding, grants, and subsidies over the years, but none of their Twitter accounts have a “government-funded” label.