In ongoing efforts to promote accuracy in media reporting on Bitcoin, I've partnered with the Digital Assets Research Institute (DARI) to draft a detailed rebuttal to a misleading BBC article published on 30 November 2023.
The BBC’s formal response to my complaint showed a disappointing disregard for the substantial evidence and expert analysis provided. To understand the context behind their dismissive reply, you can read the full text here:
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Decentra Suze (@DecentraSuze) on X
I’ve received a response from the @BBC, and they’re doubling down—further proving how difficult it is to hold them accountable for their misi...
The article by Chris Vallance from November 2023 relied heavily on Alex de Vries-Gao commentary, which lacks a foundation in solid research.
Every Bitcoin payment 'uses a swimming pool of water'
As billions face water shortages, a new study warns of the cryptocurrency's thirst for water.
The lack of rigor in the BBC’s approach and their reliance on a single, debunked perspective—such as de Vries’s—compromises the integrity of their reporting and spreads misinformation.
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Decentra Suze (@DecentraSuze) on X
The BBC ignored credible research that highlights the fundamental flaws in de Vries' study, failing to fact-check before publishing.
https://t.co/...
DARI’s experts crafted a rebuttal addressing each of the BBC's and de Vries’s points with precision.
We're asking for a retraction of any claims based on de Vries’s debunked work, or at the very least, a public acknowledgment of our concerns.
Google Docs
BBC Complaints Rebutal Final.docx
The claim that "every Bitcoin payment uses a swimming pool of water" is not just scientifically inaccurate, but also misleading. These types of claims lack methodological soundness.
It has been incredibly challenging to raise this concern, as the BBC has continuously tied me up in bureaucracy.
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Decentra Suze (@DecentraSuze) on X
The @BBC's reply was pretty poor, but there's something poetic about them going back to a discredited source so said source could defend their own ...
We’re urging the BBC to correct their narrative and provide a more balanced view of Bitcoin's environmental impact. Media accountability and accurate reporting should remain at the forefront of the Bitcoin conversation.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/09/09/new-research-shows-bitcoin-mining-cuts-carbon-emissions/
