BBC objects to Twitter’s ‘government funded media label’

The Metro says The BBC has contacted Twitter to object over a label on the platform describing it as ‘government funded media’.

The label has only been applied to the corporation’s @BBC account, which is primarily used for promoting TV programmes, radio shows and podcasts. News-focused accounts such as @BBCNews, @BBCBreaking and @BBCWorld have not been labelled.

In a statement, the corporation said: ‘The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee.’

The licence fee generated about £3.8billion in 2022, 71% of the BBC’s total income. Collection of the fee is carried out by private companies on behalf of the BBC, contracted by the corporation, not the government.

However, responding to the complaint, Twitter CEO Elon Musk said: ‘Is the Twitter label accurate?’