{"id":34889,"date":"2026-07-06T08:57:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T08:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/?p=34889"},"modified":"2026-07-08T17:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T17:38:14","slug":"still-tinnitus-wint-zaak-tegen-kassa-bnnvara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/nl\/still-tinnitus-wins-case-against-kassa-bnnvara\/","title":{"rendered":"Still Tinnitus wint zaak tegen Kassa\/BNNVARA over misleidende weergave van app"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>On 1 July 2026, the Dutch Press Council (Raad voor de Journalistiek) ruled that the complaint of Still Tinnitus against Kassa, part of BNNVARA, was well-founded. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a solo entrepreneur, I had taken on one of the largest Dutch media organizations after my Still Tinnitus app was shown in a negative context during a national TV item about misleading tinnitus treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"328\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 590 \/ 328;\" width=\"590\" controls poster=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Still-TInnitus-Kassa-still.png\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Fragment-Still-Tinnitus-KASSA.mp4\" playsinline><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fragment from the Kassa item. First, the broadcast shows several obvious false tinnitus claims. Immediately afterward, the expert says that digital methods are not effective and offer no results, while the Still Tinnitus app appears on screen for 3 seconds. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ruling was clear. The Dutch Press Council <a href=\"https:\/\/rvdj.nl\/2026\/24\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">concluded<\/a> that Kassa had created an incorrect, suggestive, and misleading impression of my app. Kassa later published the conclusion <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bnnvara.nl\/kassa\/artikelen\/conclusie-raad-van-de-journalistiek-inzake-item-tinnitus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">on the BNNVARA website<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rectification stated that because the Still Tinnitus app does not aim to cure tinnitus, the app should not have been shown at the same time as the expert\u2019s negative statement, or Kassa should have made clear that the app store scroll was only general illustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I am writing this case study because the details matter. This was not a complaint about Kassa warning people against fake tinnitus cures. I support that goal. I was misled myself years ago by online tricks, pills, and people that claimed to cure tinnitus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My complaint was about something much more specific: Kassa showed my recognizable app while an expert made a broad negative statement about &#8220;digital methods that supposedly solve tinnitus but are not effective and offer no results&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">W<strong>hat the Dutch Press Council decided<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Dutch Press Council, or &#8216;Raad voor de Journalistiek&#8217;, did not say that the entire Kassa item was wrong. The Council also did not rule on whether my course works, whether digital tinnitus therapy works, or whether the expert\u2019s scientific statement was correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Council ruled on the montage and the journalistic care around it. The conclusion was:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;Kassa created an incorrect, suggestive, and misleading impression of the complainant\u2019s app through this montage.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That sentence is the heart of the case. It means the problem was not simply that my app appeared on screen. The problem was the combination of the negative context, the timing of the expert\u2019s words, and the recognizable image of my app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"622\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-06-at-17.11.49.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35001\" style=\"width:240px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-06-at-17.11.49.png 622w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-06-at-17.11.49-300x83.png 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-06-at-17.11.49-18x5.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 622px) 100vw, 622px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Council&#8217;s conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The full conclusion of the Dutch Press Council \/ Raad voor de Journalistiek in the case of Still Tinnitus against Kassa (BNNVARA) is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-topbalk-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;border-top-style:none;border-top-width:0px;border-bottom-style:none;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-style:none;border-left-width:0px\">&#8220;Kassa (BNNVARA) showed footage of the Still Tinnitus app in its segment,&nbsp;&#8216;Money-making around tinnitus: false hope for desperate patients.&#8217;&nbsp;The footage appeared partly after, and partly at the same time as negative comments from an expert who said that&nbsp;<em>\u201call those methods that supposedly could solve tinnitus are not effective and offer no results.\u201d<\/em> Still Tinnitus argued, and Kassa did not dispute, that the app does not claim to \u201csolve\u201d&nbsp;tinnitus. Instead, it is designed to help people manage tinnitus-related complaints. <strong>The Council found that, through this edit, Kassa created an inaccurate, suggestive, and misleading impression of the Still Tinnitus app. The Council also found that Kassa did not respond adequately to the complaint<\/strong>. The fact that other app providers might also have contacted Kassa if it had granted Still Tinnitus\u2019s request for clarification or correction did not change that. For those reasons, <strong>the Council upheld the complaint. It recommended that Kassa publish the conclusion prominently.<\/strong>&#8221; (<a href=\"https:\/\/rvdj.nl\/2026\/24\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Source: RvJ<\/a>, July 1st 2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Timeline of what happened<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This case did not begin with a formal complaint. I first tried to solve the issue directly with Kassa. Only after two refusals did I take the matter to the Dutch Press Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td><strong>Date<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Event<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>What happened<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>21 February 2026<\/td><td>Kassa broadcast the tinnitus item<\/td><td>The item was titled&nbsp;<em>&#8220;Geldklopperij rond tinnitus: valse hoop voor wanhopige pati\u00ebnten.&#8221;<\/em> It warned viewers about misleading tinnitus treatments. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bnnvara.nl\/kassa\/artikelen\/geldklopperij-rond-tinnitus-valse-hoop-voor-wanhopige-patienten?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">bnnvara.nl<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4 March 2026<\/td><td>First legal letter to Kassa<\/td><td>My lawyer asked Kassa to remove the image of my app, remove related references, and publish a correction.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5 March 2026<\/td><td>Kassa rejected the request<\/td><td>Kassa said the app images were only illustrative and contained no specific judgment about individual apps.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10 March 2026<\/td><td>Second legal letter to Kassa<\/td><td>My lawyer explained again that the problem was the suggestive link between the expert\u2019s words and the recognizable image of my app.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11 March 2026<\/td><td>Kassa rejected the request again<\/td><td>Kassa wrote that the combination of image and sound fell within editorial freedom and that it saw no reason to adjust the item or publish a correction.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>12 March 2026<\/td><td>I stopped the legal support from my lawyer and decided to go to the Raad voor de Journalistiek (Dutch Press Council)<\/td><td>A lawsuit against a major broadcaster would have been very costly, so I decided to stop legal support, continue on my own, and file my complaint with the Dutch Press Council.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>18 March 2026<\/td><td>Drafted complaint and filed with the Dutch Press Council<\/td><td>I drafted a complaint myself, without lawyer support, and filed a complaint about the suggestive montage and the lack of correction or nuance afterward.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8 May 2026<\/td><td>Hearing before the Dutch Press Council<\/td><td>I explained my position in person. Kassa was represented by its editor-in-chief Leon Zervos and legal counsel V. Sinaasappel. I did not have legal representation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1 July 2026<\/td><td>The Council ruled in my favor<\/td><td>The Dutch Press Council declared the complaint well-founded and asked Kassa to publish the conclusion.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Kassa broadcast<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On 21 February 2026, Kassa aired an item about tinnitus and alleged misleading treatments (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bnnvara.nl\/kassa\/artikelen\/geldklopperij-rond-tinnitus-valse-hoop-voor-wanhopige-patienten\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">watch here<\/a>). The title alone set a strong negative frame:&nbsp;<em>\u201cGeldklopperij rond tinnitus: valse hoop voor wanhopige pati\u00ebnten,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;which translates to&nbsp;<em>\u201cMoney-making around tinnitus: false hope for desperate patients.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the item, Kassa first introduced tinnitus patients who had tried many things to get rid of the sound. The voice-over then said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;Not only Rianne and Alex are willing to do almost anything to get rid of that maddening beep. That is why an entire industry has emerged that tells millions of tinnitus patients it can cure them. A lot of money is involved, but nothing is scientifically proven.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"328\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 590 \/ 328;\" width=\"590\" controls poster=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Still-TInnitus-Kassa-still.png\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Fragment-Still-Tinnitus-KASSA.mp4\" playsinline><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fragment from the Kassa item. First, the broadcast shows several obvious false tinnitus claims. Immediately afterward, the expert says that digital methods are not effective and offer no results, while the Still Tinnitus app appears on screen for 3 seconds. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The broadcast then showed social media clips of people claiming that certain methods could cure tinnitus. After that, the program introduced Dr. Rilana Cima, described in the Council&#8217;s conclusion as a university lecturer associated with a tinnitus expertise center. This tinnitus centre is located at <a href=\"https:\/\/gehoortaal.adelantegroep.nl\/tinnitus-oorsuizen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adelante in Hoensbroek<\/a>, a center that offers in-person tinnitus treatments. She said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;There is a lot in circulation that supposedly could solve tinnitus. Scientifically, however, we see that all those methods, all those more alternative methods perhaps, or <strong>digital methods,<\/strong> or homeopathic methods, are actually <strong>not effective and offer no results<\/strong>.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At that moment, Kassa showed a scroll through tinnitus apps in an app store. My app, Still Tinnitus, was visible. According to the Council, the app appeared partly after and partly during the expert\u2019s statement. Because the image briefly stopped, the name of the app was clearly readable and recognizable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"765\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Beeld-Kassa-website-klein-1024x765.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"has-border-color wp-image-34968\" style=\"border-color:#ccccd6;border-width:1px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;aspect-ratio:1.3385836937576658;width:972px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Beeld-Kassa-website-klein-1024x765.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Beeld-Kassa-website-klein-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Beeld-Kassa-website-klein-768x574.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Beeld-Kassa-website-klein-1536x1148.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Beeld-Kassa-website-klein-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Beeld-Kassa-website-klein.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Screenshot from the Kassa item on the BNNVARA webpage. It shows a scroll through several tinnitus apps in the App Store. During this scroll, the Still Tinnitus app is visible from 23:31 to 23:33. During this time, an expert makes a statement that &#8220;digital methods are not effective and offer no results&#8221;.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who is the quoted expert?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The expert quoted in the Kassa item was Dr. Rilana Cima. In the final decision, the Council describes her as a university lecturer connected to the tinnitus expertise center. In the broadcast, she was introduced as an expert while Kassa discussed misleading tinnitus methods.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This context matters. Rilana Cima is a well known tinnitus researcher in The Netherlands, not just a neutral person commenting from the outside. She is connected to Adelante, a treatment center that offers tinnitus treatment on location. Adelante\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/gehoortaal.adelantegroep.nl\/tinnitus-oorsuizen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">own website<\/a> presents tinnitus treatment in Limburg and describes Adelante as offering a scientifically proven tinnitus treatment.&nbsp;Adelante\u2019s tinnitus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adelantegroep.nl\/voor-verwijzers\/factbook-adelante-2023\/factsheet-tinnitus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">factsheet<\/a> also lists Dr. Cima as medical program leader and psychologist connected to its tinnitus expertise center.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rilana-Cima-Kassa-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rilana-Cima-Kassa-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rilana-Cima-Kassa-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rilana-Cima-Kassa-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rilana-Cima-Kassa-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rilana-Cima-Kassa-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rilana-Cima-Kassa.jpg 1567w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dr. Rilana Cima was the only expert interviewed in the Kassa item. She stated that \u201cdigital methods are not effective and offer no results&#8221; while the Still Tinnitus app was shown. Later in the item, she tours the viewer around Adelante, where she works part-time and where in-person tinnitus treatment is offered.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My problems with this expert in this context<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Cima works for Adelante, an institution that provides tinnitus therapy in group form and on location, not digitally. In my view, this created a potential conflict of interest that Kassa should have disclosed or balanced with another expert perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I saw three issues with this experts&#8217; appearance in this item about tinnitus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First, only one expert was interviewed. Also inviting an ENT specialist would have been more effective in presenting a balanced view on tinnitus therapies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Second, the only expert in the item, Rilana Cima, works part-time for a center that provides in-person tinnitus treatment. When she states on national television that &#8220;digital methods do not work and offer no results&#8221;, I see a potential conflict of interest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Third, what made this more problematic to me was the structure of the broadcast. First, the item showed misleading tinnitus claims. Then Cima said that digital methods are not effective and offer no results. After that, the item continued with an extensive tour and explanation of the in-person (non-digital) treatment method offered at Adelante, where Cima also works. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"508\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Group-meditation-adelante-small-1024x508.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35013\" style=\"width:1024px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Group-meditation-adelante-small-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Group-meditation-adelante-small-300x149.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Group-meditation-adelante-small-768x381.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Group-meditation-adelante-small-1536x762.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Group-meditation-adelante-small-18x9.jpg 18w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Group-meditation-adelante-small.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Part of Kassa\u2019s tour at Adelante, where Dr. Rilana Cima, the only interviewed expert in the Kassa item, also works. Because Adelante offers only in-person tinnitus treatment, I believe her statement about digital methods needed more context, and can not be seen as neutral information.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That does not mean I think Cima was not allowed to speak as an expert. It also does not mean that the Council ruled on her independence or on whether her scientific statement was correct. The Council did not decide that question. But in my view, Kassa should have been much more transparent and nuanced here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Viewers deserve context. They should know that digital tinnitus support is not automatically the same as a miracle cure or homeopathic method. They should also know that a self-help app that does not claim to cure tinnitus belongs in a different category from products that promise to make tinnitus disappear. Viewers should be entitled to a balanced and transparent view on tinnitus care and possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why I objected<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My objection was never that Kassa should not warn people about false tinnitus cures. I agree that tinnitus patients should be protected from misleading promises. My objection was that my app was placed in that negative frame even though it does not claim to cure tinnitus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My lawyer\u2019s first letter to Kassa stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;While Dr. Cima says this, the client\u2019s app appears on screen at minute 23:33. Through this montage, the app is wrongly portrayed as such a method that would not be effective or would offer no results.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same letter explained that my app does not claim to cure or solve tinnitus. It is a self-help app connected to my online course. Its purpose is to help people deal with tinnitus complaints. The letter also pointed out that this could easily have been checked in the public App Store description, where the app was described as being based on treatment methods&nbsp;<em>&#8220;that can help reduce the impact of tinnitus on your life.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That difference is essential. A fake cure claim and a self-help app are not the same thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What I asked Kassa to do<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first letter did not simply complain. It made concrete requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Requests in the first letter<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My lawyer asked Kassa to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Permanently remove the image of the app and references to the app from the episode, wherever the episode appeared online, and from any future TV repeats.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Permanently remove the image of the app and references to the app from social media posts, screenshots, articles, announcements, and other channels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Publish a correction on the BNNVARA and NPO Start pages where the episode could be watched.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed correction said that the app had been wrongly shown in the item and that this had created the incorrect impression that Still Tinnitus was a method that was not effective or offered no results. It also said that there is scientific evidence that CBT-based apps and online courses, such as Still Tinnitus, can reduce tinnitus complaints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I also offered a less confrontational solution. I was open to participating in a follow-up item or recording an online video in which Kassa could explain that the app should not have been shown in that way, after which I could explain my method and the scientific basis behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Kassa\u2019s first response<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kassa rejected the request on 5 March 2026. The response was based mainly on the idea that the app store images were only illustrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kassa wrote: <em>&#8220;These images serve only as illustration of the subject and contain no specific interpretation, naming, or assessment of individual apps, providers, or methods.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kassa also stated that the app was not mentioned by name and that the passage was not aimed at 1 specific provider. According to Kassa, there was no concrete accusation of misleading conduct by my company, so there was no need for right of reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They refused to remove the images, refused to publish a correction, and refused to give me a chance to explain the method in a follow-up item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>My second letter: why the issue was not solved<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On 10 March 2026, my lawyer replied again. The second letter clarified that the problem was not whether Kassa said the name Still Tinnitus out loud. The problem was the combination of image and sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My second letter stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;It is true that the app is not mentioned by name, but it is visible for about 3 seconds. The core of the objection is the suggestive link between the statement [&#8230;] and the moment when the app appears recognizably on screen.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also explained why the app was especially recognizable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;From 23:31 to 23:33, the app is on screen. During this period, both the name of the app and the description in the App Store are readable. The name of the other app shown at the same time is not visible, which automatically draws attention to the name, logo, and subtitle of the app, which are clearly recognizable.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second letter repeated that the app does not claim to cure or solve tinnitus. It is presented as&nbsp;<em>&#8220;the tinnitus self-help app.&#8221;<\/em>&nbsp;According to the letter, this type of self-help or support app falls into a different category from the methods discussed in the broadcast as misleading methods that supposedly solve or cure tinnitus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Kassa\u2019s second response<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kassa again refused to make any change. On 11 March 2026, Kassa wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;The way in which image and sound have been combined falls, in our view, within editorial freedom. We therefore see no reason to adjust the fragment or publish a correction.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After this second refusal, I decided to file a complaint with the Dutch Press Council. I did not have the funds to take this to court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>My complaint to the Dutch Press Council<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The complaint I filed was focused. I did not ask the Council to judge the entire Kassa episode. I did not ask the Council to decide whether my online course works. I asked whether Kassa had acted carefully by showing my recognizable app during the expert\u2019s negative statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my complaint, I wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;By showing the app at the same time as the statement [that digital methods&#8230; are not effective and do not provide results], it is obvious that viewers may think that \u2018these methods\u2019 also includes the app shown at that moment.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I also wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;My app does not claim a cure or solution for tinnitus. As is also visible in the App Store image shown, the app is presented as \u2018the tinnitus self-help app.\u2019 It is therefore a tool that helps users deal with tinnitus complaints.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was the key factual issue. My app was shown in a context about methods that supposedly cure or solve tinnitus, while my app does not claim that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What I explained at the hearing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The hearing took place on 8 May 2026. I attended the hearing and explained my position in person. On Kassa\u2019s side, Leon Zervos, editor-in-chief at Kassa, was present, together with V. Sinaasappel, legal counsel at BNNVARA.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Dutch Press Council was represented by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mr. S. Djebali<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 chair of the panel and vice-chair of the Dutch Press Council; senior judge at the Amsterdam District Court<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>J. Hoogenberg<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 public member of the Council; director\/chair of the Enschede-Haaksbergen library<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>drs. R. Duiven<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 non-journalist expert member of the Council; researcher at the&nbsp;<em>Waarde(n)volle Journalistiek<\/em>&nbsp;research group at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A. Pruis<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 journalist member of the Council; political editor at NOS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>mr. drs. M.J.P.H. Josten<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 journalist member of the Council; editor-in-chief of broadcaster HUMAN<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>mr. D.C. Koene<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 independent secretary of the Council.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the hearing, I explained my personal background and that I got tinnitus myself 6 years ago. That my GP and ENT doctor told me there was nothing I could do, and that I had to learn to live with it. This caused me to panic. Like the people in the Kassa item, I was misled by online tricks that promised to cure my tinnitus. I bought pills, pulled my ears, and played sounds. Nothing helped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is why I was first glad that Kassa wanted to warn people about misleading tinnitus information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But this case was not about my feelings and the impact of the item on my company. It was about the journalistic standards of Dutch national television. I explained that, in my view, the item about misinformation around tinnitus contained two problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Problem 1: the expert\u2019s statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the hearing, I said that the expert, Rilana Cima, made a statement that I believed was incorrect and discouraging for tinnitus patients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;Scientifically, however, we see that all those methods, all those more alternative methods perhaps, or digital methods, or homeopathic methods, are actually not effective and offer no results.&#8221;<\/em> \u2014 Rilana Cima<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I told the Council that I had sent Kassa scientific studies showing that cognitive behavioral therapy and tinnitus therapy delivered through digital means can be effective:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cochrane.org\/evidence\/CD012614_cognitive-behavioural-therapy-adults-tinnitus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cochrane Review on CBT for tinnitus<\/a> concluded that CBT may reduce the negative impact tinnitus has on quality of life. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A study by  <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12271112\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Andersson and colleagues<\/a> showing internet-based CBT can help individuals decrease annoyance associated with tinnitus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8887633\/\">Beukes and colleagues<\/a> have also reported reductions in tinnitus distress through internet-based CBT.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>My own Still Tinnitus course was evaluated in the <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11856690\/\">Journal of Clinical Medicine<\/a>, where the study reported improvements in tinnitus severity. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This in my view incorrect statement was not included in my factual complaint before the Council. I did not ask them for their opinion on this matter. The Council did not decide whether the expert\u2019s scientific claim was correct. The Council&#8217;s ruling focused on the montage and the misleading impression created by showing my app during that statement, which I describe below as problem 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Problem 2: showing my app during the statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was my complaint before the Council. At the hearing, I explained that my app was shown in the middle of an item full of clear examples of nonsense and misleading claims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I pointed out 3 things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My app was visible for 3 seconds, longer than the other apps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>My app was the only one that remained still on screen. The rest is moving and not still.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Viewers had more than 2 seconds to see the name, logo, and subtitle of my app while the statement was made that &#8220;digital methods are not effective and offer no results&#8221;.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was not a passing blur in the background. It was a recognizable app shown in a negative context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roel-van-Gorkum-Kassa-BNNVARA-case-1024x769.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34942\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roel-van-Gorkum-Kassa-BNNVARA-case-1024x769.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roel-van-Gorkum-Kassa-BNNVARA-case-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roel-van-Gorkum-Kassa-BNNVARA-case-768x577.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roel-van-Gorkum-Kassa-BNNVARA-case-16x12.jpeg 16w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roel-van-Gorkum-Kassa-BNNVARA-case.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">After the hearing at the Dutch Press Council (Raad voor de Journalistiek), I remember feeling tense, drained, and emotional, but also relieved that I had finally been able to explain my side of the story in person. As a small entrepreneur standing opposite a major broadcaster, this moment meant a lot to me.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where Kassa breached the Raad&#8217;s Journalistic Guidelines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the hearing, I specifically argued that the way Kassa used the image of my app conflicted with 2 parts of the journalistic guidelines used by the Council (&#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/rvdj.nl\/leidraad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Leidraad van de Raad voor de Journalistiek<\/a>&#8216;).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guideline point A breach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I referred to point A of the Council&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/rvdj.nl\/leidraad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guideline<\/a>: journalists must report truthfully, verifiably, and as completely as possible. They must also avoid one-sided and tendentious reporting and weigh the public interest against interests harmed by publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I argued that this was relevant because my app had been placed in a harmful frame. Kassa had not checked whether my app actually claimed to cure tinnitus or was misleading. That was easy to check. The App Store description said the app is based on treatment methods&nbsp;<em>&#8220;that can help reduce the impact of tinnitus on your life.&#8221;<\/em>&nbsp;My app therefore does not claim a cure. It is a self-help app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my view, failing to make that distinction made the broadcast untruthful or incomplete on this point. I also argued that the item relied on one expert who had an interest in non-digital, location-based group therapy, which made the reporting one-sided in my view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"153\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-A-1024x153.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"has-border-color has-custom-separator-border-color wp-image-34995\" style=\"border-width:1px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-A-1024x153.png 1024w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-A-300x45.png 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-A-768x114.png 768w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-A-18x3.png 18w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-A.png 1316w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Quote from section A of the Raad voor de Journalistiek (Dutch Press Council&#8217;s) guidelines: journalists must report truthfully, verifiably, and as completely as possible. They must also avoid one-sided and tendentious reporting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Guideline point C breach<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I also referred to point C of the <a href=\"https:\/\/rvdj.nl\/leidraad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guideline<\/a>. In my hearing statement, I cited the rule that image material may not be used as illustration for another subject or in another context than the context for which the images were made, unless it is made clear why the material is being used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I argued that this was exactly what went wrong. My app was used as illustration in a context of misleading claims and false hope while viewers heard that there is a lot in circulation that supposedly solves tinnitus and that digital methods do not work or offer results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kassa said the images were general illustrations. My response was that illustration images can still mislead if they place a recognizable product in an incorrect or unsupported context. In my words, the montage made it easy for viewers to conclude that my app was an example of something that claims to solve tinnitus and does not work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These 2 guideline points became important, because the Council later explicitly referred to relevant points A and C.1 in its conclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"137\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-C-1024x137.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"has-border-color has-custom-separator-border-color wp-image-34996\" style=\"border-width:1px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;width:1024px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-C-1024x137.png 1024w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-C-300x40.png 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-C-768x102.png 768w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-C-18x2.png 18w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richtlijn-C.png 1380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Quote from section C of the Raad voor de Journalistiek (Dutch Press Council&#8217;s) guidelines: image material may not be used as illustration for another subject or in another context than the context for which the images were made, unless it is made clear why the material is being used.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Kassa argued before the Council<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kassa argued that the item was meant to inform the public about tinnitus and about the large number of digital and alternative methods that suggest a cure without enough scientific proof. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to Kassa, this was the main journalistic message of the item.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kassa said the app store images were general illustration. The app was not separately discussed, not named in the voice-over, and not explicitly called misleading or ineffective. Kassa argued that the average viewer would remember the broader message that tinnitus cannot be cured but that there are ways to learn to deal with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They also said that if a newsroom had to check every app or product shown in a visual compilation, this would make journalistic work impossible. Kassa said it often makes compilations of digital offerings in items about different topics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why my complaint was founded<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Council did not go along with Kassa\u2019s defence in this specific situation. Their judgment was not based on whether I was angry or disappointed. It was about whether the editing, in this context, could give the public the wrong impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Council: image material requires extra care in a negative context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Council first referred to the guideline rule that image material may not be used as illustration for another subject or in another context than the one for which the images were made, unless it is made clear why the image material was used.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Council added that when the context of the reporting is more negative, the decision to use image material made in another context requires more careful consideration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That is important. Kassa\u2019s item was not neutral. It was about false hope, misleading information, and methods that supposedly cure or solve tinnitus. In that kind of setting, recognizable images carry extra weight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Council: the Still Tinnitus app did not claim to cure or solve tinnitus<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Council then addressed the factual claim about my app. It wrote that I had argued, with reasons, that my app does not aim to cure or solve tinnitus but helps people deal with tinnitus complaints. The Council also noted that Kassa did not dispute this.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This was central. My app was shown in a segment about methods that supposedly solve tinnitus, but my app does not make that promise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Council: the app was shown during the expert\u2019s negative statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Council found that my app was brought into view partly after and partly at the same time as the expert\u2019s statement:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>&#8220;There is a lot in circulation that supposedly could solve tinnitus. Scientifically, however, we see that all those methods, all those more alternative methods perhaps, or digital methods, or homeopathic methods, are actually not effective and offer no results.&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Council noted that because the image briefly stood still, the name of the app was clearly readable and recognizable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Council: the montage created the impression that my app was one of \u201call those methods\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Council then agreed with the core of my complaint. It wrote: <em>&#8220;Like the complainant, the Council believes that this montage creates the impression that the complainant\u2019s app is an example of \u2018all those methods\u2019 as meant by the expert: methods that supposedly could solve tinnitus but are not effective and offer no results.&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is one of the most important findings in the entire case. It confirms that the issue was not whether Kassa literally named my app. The issue was the meaning created by the montage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Council: Kassa did not take the necessary care<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Council then looked at whether Kassa had taken enough care. It concluded that it had not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Kassa had argued that checking whether selected visual material fully matches the content of an item would make journalistic work impossible. But the Council rejected that defense in this case. The reason was simple: this did not require a deep scientific investigation into my app. A short check of the public App Store description would already have shown that Still Tinnitus does not claim to cure or solve tinnitus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That point had already been made in the first letter my lawyer sent to Kassa: <em>&#8220;Through a short and simple check of the public description of the app in the App Store, your editorial team could also have known this; it states that the app is based on treatment methods \u2018that can help reduce the impact of tinnitus on your life.\u2019&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I repeated the same point during the hearing. Kassa had not checked whether my app actually claimed a cure or was misleading, even though this was easy to verify: <em>&#8220;Kassa did not check whether my app actually claims a cure or is misleading. That was easy to check. The App Store description states that my app is based on treatment methods \u2018that can help reduce the impact of tinnitus on your life.\u2019 My app therefore does not claim a cure for tinnitus. It is a self-help app.&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Council followed that reasoning. It found that I had made it plausible that Kassa could easily have found out that my app does not aim to cure tinnitus. The Council also said Kassa could have made clear in the broadcast that the apps shown were only general illustration and were not connected to the expert\u2019s negative statement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So the issue was not that Kassa had to investigate every app in the world. The issue was that Kassa showed a clearly recognizable app in a negative context, while a simple App Store check would have shown that the app did not belong in the category being criticized. Kassa had options: it could have checked the app, avoided showing it during that statement, or added a clear explanation that the app images were general illustration and not examples of the criticized category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Council: Kassa created an incorrect, suggestive, and misleading impression<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Council&#8217;s conclusion was direct:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;By acting and failing to act as described above, Kassa created an incorrect, suggestive, and misleading impression of the complainant\u2019s app.&#8221;<\/em>  \u2014 Dutch Press Council<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Council also concluded that Kassa did not handle my complaint properly afterward:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Moreover, in view of the above, Kassa did not respond adequately to the complaint. The fact that honoring the complainant\u2019s request for nuance or correction might also have led other app providers to contact Kassa does not change that.&#8221;  \u2014 Dutch Press Council<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> It added that the possibility that other app providers might also have contacted Kassa if my request for nuance or correction had been granted did not change that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The final decision<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final decision of the Dutch Press Council was:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;The complaint of Still Tinnitus against Kassa\/BNNVARA is well-founded.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Council requested Kassa to publish the conclusion in full or in summary. They followed up on this as can be seen in the image below and on their website <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bnnvara.nl\/kassa\/artikelen\/conclusie-raad-van-de-journalistiek-inzake-item-tinnitus\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bnnvara.nl\/kassa\/artikelen\/geldklopperij-rond-tinnitus-valse-hoop-voor-wanhopige-patienten\">here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-2-klein-1024x801.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"has-border-color wp-image-34978\" style=\"border-color:#ccccd6;border-width:1px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-2-klein-1024x801.png 1024w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-2-klein-300x235.png 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-2-klein-768x600.png 768w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-2-klein-1536x1201.png 1536w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-2-klein-15x12.png 15w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-2-klein.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kassa\/BNNVARA\u2019s publication of the Dutch Press Council\u2019s conclusion. Kassa explained that the Still Tinnitus app had been shown during the expert\u2019s negative statement and that the Dutch Press Council found this created an inaccurate, suggestive, and misleading impression.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Publication on the Council&#8217;s website<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Raad\u2019s website also lists the case as&nbsp;<em>Still Tinnitus \/ the editor-in-chief of Kassa (BNNVARA),<\/em>&nbsp;conclusion 2026\/24. (<a href=\"https:\/\/rvdj.nl\/2026\/24\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">rvdj.nl<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"804\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RvJ-Still-Tinnitus-KASSA-Screenshot-small-1024x804.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34979\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RvJ-Still-Tinnitus-KASSA-Screenshot-small-1024x804.png 1024w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RvJ-Still-Tinnitus-KASSA-Screenshot-small-300x236.png 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RvJ-Still-Tinnitus-KASSA-Screenshot-small-768x603.png 768w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RvJ-Still-Tinnitus-KASSA-Screenshot-small-1536x1206.png 1536w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RvJ-Still-Tinnitus-KASSA-Screenshot-small-15x12.png 15w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RvJ-Still-Tinnitus-KASSA-Screenshot-small.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Publication on the Dutch Press Council\/Raad voor de Journalistiek website. The case&nbsp;<em>Still Tinnitus \/ the editor-in-chief of Kassa (BNNVARA)<\/em> was marked&nbsp;gegrond, meaning the Dutch Press Council upheld my complaint.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>My view on Dr. Rilana Cima\u2019s statement<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This section is my own view. The Council did not decide whether Dr. Rilana Cima\u2019s statement about digital methods was scientifically correct. The Council ruled on the montage and the misleading impression created by the way my app was shown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, I want to explain why I believe the broad statement about digital methods was wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The statement was:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;Scientifically, however, we see that all those methods, all those more alternative methods perhaps, or digital methods, or homeopathic methods, are actually not effective and offer no results.&#8221;<\/em> \u2014 <em>Dr. Rilana Cima<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My concern is the part where she says that &#8220;<strong>all<\/strong>&#8230;.<strong>digital methods<\/strong>&#8230;are actually <strong>not effective and offer no results<\/strong>&#8220;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Digital CBT as effective as in-person<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my letter and during the procedure, I explained that digital delivery does not automatically make cognitive behavioral therapy less effective. Several studies have compared online CBT with face-to-face CBT and found comparable results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Andersson et al. found that guided internet-based CBT and face-to-face CBT were <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4219070\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">equally effective<\/a> across several psychiatric and somatic conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An updated meta-analysis by <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29215315\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Carlbring et al.<\/a> found equivalent overall effects between internet-based CBT and face-to-face CBT.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Another <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7393662\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">review<\/a> found that electronically delivered CBT was at least as effective as face-to-face CBT for depression.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A randomized clinical trial in health anxiety also found that internet-delivered CBT was <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7221860\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">noninferior to face-to-face CBT<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Online tinnitus therapy effective<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research indicates that just like CBT, tinnitus therapy can delivered just as effectively online as in person. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A review article describes CBT for tinnitus as a treatment that addresses the person\u2019s reaction to tinnitus rather than eliminating the sound itself. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ejao.org\/journal\/view.php?doi=10.7874%2Fkja.2013.17.3.101&amp;utm_source=chatgpt.com\">ejao.org<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is also research on internet-based CBT for tinnitus. A randomized controlled trial on internet-based audiologist-guided CBT reported greater reductions in tinnitus distress compared with weekly monitoring, with no important adverse events reported. (<a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8887633\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">PMC<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>My own course was also studied. A 2025 Journal of Clinical Medicine article investigated change in tinnitus severity after participation in the online self-paced Still Tinnitus course. The study reported a clinically relevant average decrease on the Tinnitus Functional Index after course completion. (<a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11856690\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">PMC<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">None of this means tinnitus has a simple cure. I do not claim that. The point is that digital tinnitus support should not automatically be dismissed because it is digital. The correct question is not,&nbsp;<em>&#8220;Is it online?&#8221;<\/em>&nbsp;The correct question is,&nbsp;<em>&#8220;What does it claim, what method is it based on, and what evidence supports it?&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The key distinction: cure claims versus support<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This case is really about 1 important distinction: curing tinnitus is not the same as helping people cope with tinnitus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I do not tell people I can remove the sound from their head. Still Tinnitus is built around helping people reduce the fear, stress, attention, and emotional reaction around tinnitus. That can make tinnitus less dominant in daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kassa\u2019s own article made a similar distinction when it explained that psychological therapies do not focus on removing the sound, but on changing the meaning the brain gives to it. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bnnvara.nl\/kassa\/artikelen\/geldklopperij-rond-tinnitus-valse-hoop-voor-wanhopige-patienten?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">bnnvara.nl<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why this distinction matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tinnitus patients are often tired, scared, and desperate for relief. Clear information matters because both false hope and unnecessary hopelessness can be harmful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A product that claims to cure tinnitus should be questioned.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A self-help method that helps people cope with tinnitus is a different category.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Digital delivery does not automatically make a method ineffective.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Journalists should check recognizable products before showing them in a harmful frame.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patients deserve realistic hope, not miracle claims and not blanket dismissal that online therapy is useless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"622\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-06-at-17.11.49.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35001\" style=\"width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-06-at-17.11.49.png 622w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-06-at-17.11.49-300x83.png 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-06-at-17.11.49-18x5.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 622px) 100vw, 622px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the Raad voor de Journalistiek, and why does it matter in this case?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Raad voor de Journalistiek is the Dutch Press Council. It is not a court, but an independent body that assesses complaints about journalistic conduct. According to the Council&#8217;s own website, assessing complaints is its main task. The Council uses its <a href=\"https:\/\/rvdj.nl\/leidraad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guideline<\/a>, or &#8216;leidraad&#8217; as the standard for what may be expected from good journalism. That Leidraad is based on principles such as truthfulness, accuracy, fairness, verifiability, and integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Council matters because it gives people a way to challenge journalism without immediately having to start a lawsuit. When someone is not satisfied with how a media outlet handled their complaint, or when the media outlet does not respond, they can submit a complaint to the Council. The Council then assesses whether journalistic-ethical boundaries were crossed. If a complaint is found well-founded, the Council asks the media outlet to publish the conclusion in full or in summary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That mattered a lot to me personally. I was not a large company with a big legal budget. I was one person, filing a complaint against a major broadcaster. Starting a lawsuit would have been expensive, stressful, and risky. Separate from the outcome, I am genuinely grateful that the Raad voor de Journalistiek (Dutch Press Council) exists, that they spent time and effort on my complaint, and that I was taken seriously as an individual standing opposite a large media organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What this could mean for Dutch journalism<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My case is especially relevant because these kinds of visual shortcuts are common in television journalism. Editors often use quick screenshots, scrolling images, app stores, social media feeds, or website fragments to show a broader trend. This ruling shows that those images still carry meaning. When the footage makes a real product or organization recognizable, it cannot simply be treated as neutral background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This ruling may have wider implications for Dutch journalism, especially for TV items that use quick visual compilations to illustrate a broader story. The Dutch Press Council made clear that \u201cillustrative footage\u201d is not automatically harmless. If a recognizable product, person, or organization is shown in a negative context, viewers may connect that image to the criticism being made.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For journalists, the lesson is simple: context matters. A newsroom does not always need to do a full investigation into every image that appears on screen, but when a specific product is clearly recognizable during a damaging statement, a basic check may be necessary. In this case, the Council found that Kassa could easily have checked that my app did not claim to cure tinnitus.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The ruling also shows that editorial freedom does not remove the duty of care. Journalists can criticize misleading products, challenge false claims, and warn vulnerable audiences. But if they use recognizable footage, especially in a story about fraud, false hope, or ineffective treatments, they need to make sure the image actually fits the context or clearly explain that it is only general illustration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What this case taught me<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This case taught me how powerful context is. A few seconds on screen can create a strong impression, especially when a recognizable product is shown during a negative expert statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also taught me that small organizations sometimes have to stand up for themselves. I did not file this complaint because I wanted a fight with Kassa. I filed it because I believed the broadcast gave viewers the wrong impression about my app and about digital tinnitus support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Dutch Press Council (Raad voor de Journalistiek) agreed that the montage created an incorrect, suggestive, and misleading impression. For me, that is the most important outcome. I am grateful that a serious body like the Council exists, because not everyone has the money, or the desire, to spend thousands of euros on lawyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I still believe Kassa had the right intention to warn people about fake tinnitus cures. I know from my own experience how harmful those promises can be. When tinnitus first took over my life, I also tried things that claimed to make the sound disappear. They did not help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But warning people about false hope should not create a new false impression. Still Tinnitus does not claim to cure tinnitus. It helps people deal with tinnitus complaints. That distinction was easy to check, and the Council concluded that Kassa should have handled the image of my app more carefully. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For tinnitus patients, this kind of nuance is not a small detail. False information can cause real harm in both directions. It is harmful when people are told that a pill, trick, or app can magically remove tinnitus. But it is also harmful when people are left with the impression that only offline treatment can help, and that digital support, self-help, or online therapy cannot offer results. For someone who is already scared, exhausted, or stuck on a waiting list, that message can create more hopelessness. More hopelessness can lead to more stress, and more stress can make tinnitus complaints feel even worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This case is bigger than my app. It is about careful journalism, clear distinctions, and honest information for people with tinnitus. There is no simple cure for tinnitus, but that does not mean people are powerless. With the right support, life can get much better (see these <a href=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/still-tinnitus-course\/#reviews\">recovery stories<\/a>, for example). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Still Tinnitus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still Tinnitus, known as &#8216;Sus Tinnitus&#8217; in The Netherlands, helps people reduce the impact of tinnitus on their daily lives. The company offers an online course and companion self-help app focused on evidence-informed strategies for managing tinnitus-related stress, fear, and attention. Still Tinnitus does not claim to cure tinnitus or remove the sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Founded by biomedical engineer Roel van Gorkum after his own experience with tinnitus, Still Tinnitus has supported more than 1,500 people and holds a 4.9\/5 rating on <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/URDeiMi9eK4KXjsn7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Maps<\/a>. The online course has also been evaluated in a scientific publication in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/14\/4\/1166\">Journal of Clinical Medicine<\/a>, contributing to the growing research on digital tinnitus support. Its goal is to provide clear, practical, evidence-informed support without long waiting lists, travel time, or group sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Need help with tinnitus?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re struggling with tinnitus, I&#8217;m here to help. I recommend joining my <a href=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/still-tinnitus-course\/#start\">free tinnitus webinar<\/a>. In the webinar, I explain the method I use to help people reduce tinnitus-related stress, fear, and attention \u2014 without traveling, waiting, or group sessions. Even though there\u2019s no cure for tinnitus, a full recovery is possible. Hang in there, and see you in the <a href=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/still-tinnitus-course\/#start\">webinar<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"746\" src=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-1-klein-1024x746.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"has-border-color wp-image-34977\" style=\"border-color:#ccccd6;border-width:1px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-1-klein-1024x746.png 1024w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-1-klein-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-1-klein-768x560.png 768w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-1-klein-1536x1119.png 1536w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-1-klein-16x12.png 16w, https:\/\/stilltinnitus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rectificatie-Kassa-1-klein.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Correction notice added by Kassa\/BNNVARA to the original tinnitus article. Kassa stated that because the Still Tinnitus app does not claim to cure tinnitus, the app should not have been shown during the expert\u2019s statement, or Kassa should have made clear that the app store footage was only general illustration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Still Tinnitus wint zaak tegen Kassa\/BNNVARA bij Raad voor de Journalistiek over misleidende weergave van app<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[22],"class_list":["post-34889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tinnitus-blogs","tag-interne-links-naar-andere-blogs-nog-toevoegen"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Still Tinnitus Wins Case Against Kassa\/BNNVARA Over Misleading App Portrayal - 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