Was it ethical for the BBC to use a hidden camera in ‘The Secret Swami’?
It used it in the case of a highly elusive chairman of a world organization, Dr Michael Goldstein of Covena, California, that faces grave questions in India and many countries around the world.
The Sathya Sai Organization, despite many claims not to recruit or fund raise should certainly be scrutinized by a public and its government, political and institutional organs, which it most definitely cultivates at both peak and local levels.
Sanctions for the unusual use of hidden camera were obtained by the producers from top echelon BBC management and legals.
Despite the alarums and excursions of Dr G. Venkataraman (and informally allied Sathya Sai Baba proxy defenders on the Internet whose libels and slanders are deemed by top lawyers in three countries to be extreme, widespread and highly actionable), the BBC had every just cause to shoot clandestinely. The extensive lack of accountability, transparency and of Duty-of-Care were not only seen clearly by the BBC but have also been noted by other world leading, high quality media in several countries.
Further Reading
The BBC’s ‘The Secret Swami’ – A Revision
Sai Baba’s ‘Minister of Propaganda’ – Dr G. Venkataraman
Exposure of Sathya Sai Baba. Media Source List
For Viewing
The Secret Swami (BBC Television):
(80 MB, Broadband)
http://home.hccnet.nl/cmg.vdsandt/The%20Secret%20Swami.wmv
(23.3 MB, Modem)
Seduced (DR, Danish Broadcasting, Denmarkâs national television and radio broadcaster):
http://www.rfjvds.dds.nl/seduced/seduced.wmv
(80 MB, Broadband)
http://home.hetnet.nl/~seduced/seduced.wmv
(21 MB, Modem)
