Media Coverage of Armed Conflicts: The Contention between the Right to Privacy and Freedom of Expression: Syria as a Case Study

Abstract

Objectives: This study sheds light on the dilemma of conflicting two fundamental human rights, namely the right to freedom of expression and the right to privacy, during the coverage of Arab satellite channels of armed conflicts in general, and the Syrian crisis in particular.

Methods: This qualitative study aims to draw the boundaries of these rights, highlight their conflicts, and determine which one takes precedence in protection when they clash. The study will lean towards a descriptive and analytical approach in analyzing some visual news materials related to the Syrian crisis to demonstrate the extent to which they respect the dignity and privacy of the victims.

Results: The study developed a criterion for judging the intersections of freedom of expression and the right to privacy represented in the public interest. An examination in three parts confirms the urgent need to restrict freedom of publication in favor of protecting a more deserving right, which is the right to the privacy of victims appearing in degrading images.

Conclusions: The study does not deny the importance of depicting scenes of violations and victims for documenting the crime and holding perpetrators accountable in the future. However, its proper place is not television screens but rather human rights institutions that document these crimes to serve as evidence in courts, which keep such scenes completely confidential to avoid violating the rights and dignity of the victims.