Facebook takes down Conservative Party adverts featuring edited BBC footage

Read our live politics blog HERE
Stephanie Cockroft2 December 2019
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Facebook has taken down Conservative Party adverts which used edited versions of BBC content.

One of the adverts included an edited clip of BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg saying "pointless delay to Brexit", followed by newsreader Huw Edwards stating "another Brexit delay".

It also used a caption, saying: "A hung parliament = gridlock. Stop the chaos. Vote Conservative."

The corporation complained to the social network, claiming the adverts infringed on its intellectual property rights.

It added: “This is a completely unacceptable use of BBC content which distorts our output and which could damage perceptions of our impartiality.”

The BBC described use of its footage as 'unacceptable'
@conservatives/Facebook/BBC

Facebook has now confirmed it has removed the advert.

A spokesman said: "We have removed this content following a valid intellectual property claim from the rights holder, the BBC.

"Whenever we receive valid IP claims against content on the platform, in advertising or elsewhere, we act in accordance with our policies and take action as required."

Mr Edwards welcomed the move, tweeting: "Good. My thoughts on this kind of stunt are unprintable."

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said last week that it was "clear" the footage was "not edited in a manner that misleads or changes the reporting", adding that viewers can "judge for themselves".

The move comes at a challenging time for Facebook, as the tech giant faces pressure to ban political adverts altogether in the midst of a General Election.

Its rival, Twitter, has banned political advertising on its platform, while Google has said it will no longer allow voters to be targeted by advertisers based on their political affiliation.

In the minute-long video which was posted on the party's Twitter account, Sir Keir was questioned on ITV's Good Morning Britain by Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid over Labour's Brexit policy.

General Election 2019 - In pictures

1/83

The video ends with Sir Keir staring at the camera after being asked by Mr Morgan: "Why would the EU give you a good deal if they know you are going to actively campaign against it?"

However, in the original interview Sir Keir replied to the host.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in