Public Interest V Public Curiosity

[Oldfart]

There is a story at the moment here in Australia about an Indian doctor who was allegedly connected with the UK car-bombs.

The Press are claiming that it is in the public interest to give out sensitive information.

Where do Pixies see the line?

[jseal]

Oldfart,

My quess is that it would depend upon the severity of the alleged crime and the sensitivity of the data supporting the allegation(s).

[dicksbro]

Tough call, OF. People should be informed, but not if the information provided either helps the bad guys escape justice ... or ... if the info was likely to cause unnecessary panice in the population.

[wyndhy]

innocent until proven quilty. and it annoys me no end that the media seem to forget that the word "alleged" doesn't forbid poeple from forming judgement. the media have seriously ruined peoples lives in the past by painting them as the very picture of alleged evil when in fact they were innocent of any crime. wait for the results, report them as facts, leave the speculation to the detectives.

[Lilith]

I was thinking about Nancy Grace last night digging, speculating, raising suspicions, with very little information. The police rep on the show kept saying they could not discuss the investigation but she kept making suppositions. But guess what dumb fuck was watching it...

[scotzoidman]

The line moves, depending on where the two sides set up their front lines. Give me some specifics & I can tell you fairly close to where the line should be drawn.