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0 votes
I am aware that the public can record a council meeting and that they do not have to ask permission.

Can the council insist that the recording is not edited?

Or can they insist that it is not shared on social media? Edited or other wise.
I assume here that the recording person will not be filming vulnerable adults or children just councillors and members of the public who are speaking in the public participation.

TIA
closed with the note: Thanks for all the answers everyone, I think the emphatic answer was No!!
by (210 points)
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3 Answers

+1 vote
Best answer
It's a public meeting and the person recording it can do whatever they want with the recording.
by (52.9k points)
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Thank you.
Our council has this in its policies so Im assuming it needs to be reworded to make more clear that it is a request.

"The Council asks those recording proceedings not to edit the film or recording in a way that could lead to misinterpretation of the proceedings, or infringe the core values of the Council. This includes refraining from editing an image or views expressed in a way that may ridicule, or show lack of respect, towards those being filmed or recorded.
The Council will display requirements as to filming, recording and broadcasting at its meeting venues and those undertaking these activities will be deemed to have accepted them whether they have read them or not."
As a polite request, it's fine, but it's completely unenforceable. The requirements you display at the meeting venues must comply fully with the legislation, so care should be taken with the wording.
Thanks DavetheClerk
If the PC is worried about editing and misrepresenting the council, then the sure answer is for the council to make its own recordings, and make them public. (With no editing of its own!)
I don't think the Council has a legal basis to stipulate the following:  "The Council will display requirements as to filming, recording and broadcasting at its meeting venues and those undertaking these activities will be deemed to have accepted them whether they have read them or not."
0 votes
As simple as it gets - No.
by (6.4k points)
0 votes
As Carolinenelson suggests, if the public are recording the meeting, do the same so you have a factual record to go against a possible edited version.  You just need to advise the public that you are recording the meeting.
by (24.0k points)
Thank you everyone

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