The Sri Lanka Police have warned the media regarding the publishing of CCTV and other footage connected to legal cases, stating that it must take responsibility for such publication.
Issuing a statement, the Police said the publication or broadcasting of photographs and video footage related to ongoing court cases, cases scheduled to be taken up before the court in the near future, investigations where photography is prohibited, or related operational activities, via electronic or print media, is prohibited.
This includes visual/audio recordings, whether original, unedited, or altered/unedited using AI or other technologies, being disseminated through various media platforms. The release of such visuals could potentially influence investigations into serious crimes, complex incidents, and sensitive observations, it said.
The Police further said that if such photographs, video footage, or AI-generated/altered visuals are publicized during the pendency of court cases or investigations, it could cause the victims and witnesses to face various threats and potentially dangerous situations.
According to the institutional structure of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, media institutions operate within a specific framework and limitations. Accordingly, information should be released to the media only by an authorized officer designated by the head of the institution or the head of the institution themselves. Therefore, photographs and video footage containing information obtained officially regarding incidents, including those where photography is prohibited, should be released only through the Police Media Division to all media, and it is instructed that these photographs and video footage should be provided to the Sri Lanka Police, it said.
The Police pointed out that if facts are presented contrary to this, by publishing information, whether unverified, prohibited, or altered/unedited photographs or video footage, the respective media heads/persons responsible will be held accountable.
They also warned that on such occasions, if a complaint is lodged by an aggrieved party before the Court, those institutions and responsible persons will also be subject to legal action. (Newswire)