Press & PR

The BBC has admitted to misleading the public in a Panorama documentary about the risks of Wi-Fi broadband.

Public hysteria was stoked by the programme which aired earlier this year, but the BBC's Editorial Complaints Unit (ECU) has condemned Panorama for not presenting a balanced view of the subject.

According to the recent ruling of the watchdog, editors gave an unreasonable amount of airtime to three scientists expressing concern over the possible effects of using wireless broadband, while only one interview was held with an expert who defended Wi-Fi.

This "gave a misleading impression of the state of scientific opinion on the issue", according to the ECU report.

Further criticism was aimed at the treatment of the sole Wi-Fi supporter on the documentary, with the ECU saying that suggestions in the show that his independence was in question was "unfair" when compared to the uncritical stance taken towards the other scientists.


No evidence has been found that Wi-Fi connections cause any harmless effects, but they do provide benefits including improved access to the internet.

Using a Vonage wireless router, consumers can link up to Wi-Fi and make unlimited free calls to the UK and Ireland from just £5.99 a month.