ERC condemns TVI over broadcast ethics regarding sexual assault case

The ERC (Entidade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social) has condemned TVI for failing to observe broadcast ethics during an interview on the program ‘Dois às 10’. The decision follows thousands of complaints regarding comments made by presenter Cristina Ferreira in April concerning a sexual assault case involving four influencers in Loures.

The regulator concluded that the statements made during the program attenuated the gravity of the aggressors' actions and the violence perpetrated. According to the ERC, the framing of the topic questioned the victim's lack of consent and transferred responsibility to her, creating a false cause-and-effect relationship regarding sexual violence.

The ERC noted that such remarks blur the distinction between sexual relations and abuse, potentially diminishing public perception of the severity of sexual violence. The regulator emphasized that these statements can lead to the revictimization of survivors and may negatively influence how children and adolescents, to whom the program is accessible, perceive gender-based violence.