Complaint
A viewer complained that a report in the programme about the amount of water used by data centres in Scotland gave the misleading impression such data centres will result in “environmental damage and water scarcity” in the country. The ECU considered the complaints in the light of the BBC’s editorial standards of accuracy.
Outcome
The amount of drinking water currently used by Scotland’s data centres is a fraction of a percentage point of the total amount of water provided to the country. The television report did not make this clear (unlike the related online report) and the ECU consequently agreed viewers would have been left with the misleading impression that Scotland’s data centres are already a significant factor in contributing to water scarcity.
Upheld
Further action
The finding was reported to the management of BBC Scotland and discussed with the programme team.