The ongoing battle to restrict the broadcasting of 911 calls in Massachusetts has gained traction, fueled by the advocacy of Winchester resident, Lynch.
A former advertising professional, Lynch had never engaged in politics until she felt compelled to act after hearing a mother’s heart-wrenching 911 call that was aired without consent.
Concerned about the ethics of broadcast media exploiting such distressing moments, Lynch reached out to her state representative, Jason Lewis, with a straightforward question: Why is this legal?
Lewis, a Winchester Democrat, recognized the validity of her concerns and initiated the first of many bills aimed at imposing restrictions on broadcasting 911 calls without consent.
Despite gaining favorable reports in each legislative session, Lynch’s bill has repeatedly stalled, failing to reach a full House or Senate vote.
“The broadcasters oppose it, naturally,” Lynch explained, expressing frustration over the lack of progress.
The bill’s advancement has recently been supported by Representative Michael Day, a Stoneham Democrat and chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
House Bill 1643 seeks to classify the audio recordings of 911 calls as private, while allowing access to written transcripts for anyone upon request.
This means that while law enforcement could still use the audio for investigations, any public disclosure of the recordings would require either the caller’s written consent or, if the caller objected, a court order determining that public interest outranked their privacy.
“This would create hurdles for news organizations and social media users,” Lynch stated, “but it’s an improvement over a system that relies on the decency of broadcasters.”
Critics, including Robert J. Ambrogi, executive director of the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, argue against the bill.
Ambrogi contended that audio recordings can provide crucial context, capturing nuances absent in transcripts that are essential for accountability regarding 911 operators and emergency response systems.
Jordan Walton, executive director of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association, also expressed concern, remarking that while his organization has not taken a formal stance, it is likely that members would oppose the bill.
“All journalists might find issues with this step,” Walton stated, acknowledging the essential role audio recordings play in journalism.
However, Day believes that the proposed restrictions on audio recordings strike a necessary balance between public access and protecting individuals in vulnerable situations.
He remarked, “Emergency calls usually occur during the most distressing moments of a caller’s life,” emphasizing that the system is designed to provide help, not fodder for sensationalist media.
This acknowledgment reflects a significant shift in the media landscape since the bill was first introduced 14 years ago, where the application of common decency in broadcasting such calls is often inconsistent, especially within social media, where anything is permissible.
Day highlighted another concern, stating, “The fear that a call might be used in a broadcast or a post can have a chilling effect on the caller’s willingness to place the call or to be honest during it.”
He concluded that this chilling effect contradicts the public’s interest in maintaining a robust emergency communication system.
Many states, such as New Hampshire and Rhode Island, already have restrictions on 911 recordings, which raises the question of why Massachusetts has not yet followed suit.
The legislation aims to maintain a delicate balance between ensuring public knowledge, enabling journalistic scrutiny of public officials, and respecting the privacy of those making emergency calls.
Despite the Judiciary Committee periodically voting in favor of the bill, political hesitancy remains, possibly influenced by the opposition from newspapers and broadcasting organizations.
As Lynch continues the fight, she occasionally feels as if her efforts mirror that of Sisyphus, feeling mentally drained from pushing the bill up Beacon Hill only to see it roll back down.
Nevertheless, she remains undeterred.
“It’s going to pass someday,” Lynch asserted with determination, “and then I can die thinking I’ve made the world a little better.”
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