A request for information from the BBC had been rejected and the exemption to disclosure upheld by the UK’s ICO.
In an attempt to ensure the subsequent approach would not receive similar rejection, would result in the disclosure of information, the help of Chat GPT was enlisted, asked:
what information can i obtain from the BCC about the filming of the Bermuda police, in Bermuda, by use of the Freedom of Information Act.
Please write me a freedom of information request for this
The response can be read here and gave rise to the following request of the BBC:
15/09/2024, please provide:
- A breakdown of the total costs associated with filming the Bermuda Police in Bermuda, including production, travel, accommodation, and other expenses.
- Copies of any contracts or agreements between the BBC and third parties, including the Bermuda Police or any local agencies, related to the filming of the Bermuda Police.
- Information regarding any public funding or grants used to support the filming of the Bermuda Police in Bermuda.
Please exclude any material that falls under the exemptions of the Freedom of Information Act, particularly those relating to journalism, art, or literature.
I would appreciate if the information could be provided electronically, where possible. If any part of my request is unclear or exceeds the cost limit, please inform me so I may refine my request.
However, the BBC restated their earlier exemption, replying:
30/09/2024:
We have carefully considered your request and concluded that it is clear from your description of the information you are seeking that if the BBC held information of the kind
you have asked for, it would all be held for the purposes of journalism, art or literature.
The FOI Act does not apply to information held by the BBC for any of those purposes. This is explained in an information sheet enclosed with this letter.
To be clear, in this case we have not searched for any information since any that we found would be non-disclosable, and the searches would not serve any useful purpose.
The above matter has been presented to the UK’s Information Commissioner, a complaint lodged.
In the meantime, a further request has bene made:
13/10/2024, a new request was presented:
please supply any information you hold relating to Spun Gold’s filming in Bermuda that does not fall to the exemption ‘held for the purposes of journalism, art or literature’.
A response is awaited.