Tracey Spicer addresses fallout from new ABC documentary that breaches rape victims’ privacy

Tracey Spicer says she is “gutted and devastated” after it was revealed a TV show she presented revealed the names of rape victims who trusted her.

Journalist and author Tracey Spicer has said she is “gutted and devastated” by revelations today that a documentary she presented included the real names, faces and personal stories of rape and domestic violence victims without the survivors’ knowledge or consent.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Spicer said: “To those who trusted me … I am truly sorry.”

Spicer also acknowledged her response to some of the thousands of women who got in touch with her with their experiences of sexual violence was “wholly inadequate”. Many people never received a reply.

She appealed for the end of “social media shoutrage”, so people could work together on issues surrounding sexual violence.

Spicer spoke today after an investigation by Nina Funell for news.com.au and BuzzFeed News found advance copies of Silent No More, a three-part documentary about the #MeToo movement in Australia, didn’t blur out the identities of people who had contacted her.

The names and faces were on Spicer’s computer screen, which was visible as part of the documentary, a Southern Pictures production for the ABC.

A preview version of the documentary was distributed by the ABC’s marketing department to media outlets in early October.

But the already circulating documentary also included disclosures received by Spicer regarding rape, harassment and domestic violence, without the women’s consent.

The victims – whose names and faces also appear – had no knowledge of the documentary’s existence, or that Spicer had shared their confidential disclosures with a film crew, until contacted.

RELATED: ‘Unprofessional, unethical, unsafe’: ABC breaches rape victim’s privacy in new Tracey Spicer documentary

A screenshot from the ABC’s Silent No More documentary that shows Tracey Spicer scrolling through the comments.

Another shot from the documentary showed the names and faces clearly visible.

One woman, who was gang-raped as a teenager, disclosed that information to Spicer in a private Facebook message sent in March 2018. Another person was identified has now died and her family weren’t approached by the documentary makers.

Another woman said of her name being revealed: “Other people have seen it now. I don’t know who they are. It’s a breach of trust. It’s not professional, it’s unethical.”

ABC WAS ‘LAX’

Speaking at the Press Club today alongside #MeToo campaigner Tarana Burke, Spicer said the ABC had been “lax in maintaining people’s privacy”.

She said Silent No More was distributed under embargo to a select group of media, who committed not to share this with third parties.

“I agreed to take part in this program on the understanding that those who told their stories agreed to do it,” she said.

“I agreed to take part on the understanding that any other item of identifying information, in any of the stories, was blurred, redacted, deidentified.

“I am horrified the proper procedures and policies in place were not good enough to properly protect survivors.

“To those who trusted me, and to me personally, I am truly sorry and frankly I am gutted and devastated by what has happened.”

She said in the final version of the series, which airs on November 25, all names and identifying material had already been blurred.

At the National Press Club today, Tracey Spicer apologised but said only the ABC could answer why the identities hadn’t been masked.

WHOLLY INADEQUATE

The people whose identities were revealed were some of those who contacted Spicer after she publicly called for women’s stories in the wake of the #MeToo hashtag going viral in October 2017.

Spicer today said she expected 12-15 people to get in touch, but more than 2000 reached out to her.

Many of those people who emailed Spicer didn’t hear back from the journalist.

Spicer claimed she was overwhelmed by so many people getting in touch. In addition, an email address many had used to reach her had been shut down with no messages forwarded on.

“I did feel an enormous duty of care to every person who contacted me. I had lengthy correspondence and conversations with the vast majority of them,” she said.

“I am so very sorry some survivors didn’t hear back from me. This must have added to their already deep distress.

“Under the weight of such a historic outpouring. I acknowledge as one freelance journalist, a volunteer, trying to answer hundreds of messages, I was wholly inadequate.”

The Australian’s Alice Workman pushed Spicer on whether, by allowing individuals’ details to be filmed at all, that was a “breach of privacy” for which she bore some responsibility.

Spicer said the production company had many similar documentaries in the past with no issues.

“I trusted them with people’s privacy and with the confidentiality of the documentary. Now, whether that was naive of me, possibly yes.”

But she insisted only the ABC and production company could explain why the names were not blurred.

Tracey Spicer marching during a protest in Sydney. Picture: Jenny Evans

END THE ‘SHOUTRAGE’

The ABC has issued an apology “for any harm or upset” caused to the women or their families, adding that “it has always been our intention that these names and details be blurred before broadcast”.

Despite the missteps, Spicer said the #MeToo movement in Australia needed to move forward.

“We need services that are properly resourced and staffed and promoted

to the community, to ensure victims of abuse know where they can safely turn in times of need,” she said.

“We need services that are properly resourced and staffed and promoted to the community, to ensure victims of abuse know where they can safely turn in times of need.

“We need systems and structures in place that protect survivors and prevent further abuse. And we need to change the conversation from the lounge room to the board room,” she said.

“Make no mistake – the cultural change has been begun. But we must forge forward to avoid being stuck in the backlash.

“At this time of global hate and horror and confected social media shoutrage (sic), we need to bring people together into the middle. To have civilised conversations instead of tearing each other apart, and to work together for lasting change.”

People can call Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia on 1800 424 017 (24/7)

Originally published as Tracey Spicer addresses fallout from new ABC documentary that breaches rape victims’ privacy