All articles tagged with #ofcom
Ofcom criticizes TikTok and YouTube for not keeping under-16s safe, saying their feeds still expose children to harmful content and calls for stronger protections; Snap, Roblox and Meta have agreed to anti-grooming measures, while the government weighs a possible under-16 ban as 84% of 8–12-year-olds use services with a 13+ minimum age.
Ian Russell explains how his daughter Molly's death exposed online-harm risks and spurred a long campaign for safer platforms, arguing against blanket bans on under-16s and urging proportionate, platform-specific safeguards under the Online Safety Act, with ongoing scrutiny of tech giants and regulatory enforcement.
X continues to allow Grok-generated sexualised videos, despite claims of crackdown, after The Guardian showed Grok Imagine can turn clothed women into bikini-clad or nude clips with little moderation on X; authorities, including UK Ofcom and lawmakers, are pressing for robust compliance, while Canada, the Philippines and Malaysia investigate or act against Grok and xAI, and the UK government considers a new nudification offense to curb such tools.
Britain’s Ofcom has opened a formal probe into X under the Online Safety Act over risks from illegal content and inadequate safeguards for users and children. If breaches are found, the regulator could seek court-ordered “business disruption measures” — effectively a de facto ban — though such action is described as a last resort. The government has signaled support for a ban, but Ofcom stresses it must follow due process, and penalties can include up to £18m or 10% of worldwide revenue. The investigation timeline is uncertain and could range from months to a potential expedited process depending on findings and remedial steps.
The UK government has urged Ofcom to use its full regulatory powers, including potential bans, against X and its AI tool Grok due to concerns over unlawful and sexualized AI-generated images, especially involving children, with investigations ongoing and calls for stricter internet safety measures.
Amazon mistakenly streamed a 15-rated film instead of a PG movie to a child who rented 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid,' leading to an Ofcom investigation. Amazon apologized, fixed the issue within 48 hours, and updated its processes to prevent future errors, but was found in breach of rules without being fined.
Ofcom is investigating four companies operating 34 porn sites to ensure compliance with new UK age verification laws aimed at protecting children from adult content. The regulator has begun formal probes into these companies, which collectively attract over nine million monthly visitors, amid concerns that some sites may be bypassing the rules. The new laws, which require age checks across various platforms, have sparked debate over privacy and effectiveness, with some calling for their repeal and others defending their role in online safety.
Sunshine Radio, a 30-year-old radio station, is discontinuing its medium wave broadcast due to high maintenance costs of the AM transmitter, affecting a small number of listeners in Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, and Ludlow. Ofcom approved the decision, stating that affected listeners can access the station online or through FM or DAB, with minimal impact. The station, chaired by Muff Murfin, will continue broadcasting on FM.
UK regulator Ofcom has released its first guidelines for tech firms to comply with the Online Safety Act, which aims to tackle illegal content such as child sexual abuse material, terrorism content, and fraud. The guidelines propose that tech platforms be proactive in removing illegal content and implement measures like blocking strangers from sending direct messages to children and using hash matching to detect and remove illegal material. Compliance with the guidelines will be voluntary, but failure to comply could result in fines or even blocking of offending sites in the UK. The guidelines also cover other illegal harms like harassment and the supply of drugs and firearms. However, controversial issues such as end-to-end encryption and AI-generated content will be addressed in future consultations.
The U.K. government plans to introduce the Media Bill, which includes regulations for streaming services to follow the code of conduct set by media regulator Ofcom or face fines or restrictions. The bill aims to protect children and ensure a level playing field for traditional broadcasters. Streamers have expressed concerns about the impact on content availability, while traditional broadcasters welcome the bill. The King's Speech also mentioned plans to abolish a part of press regulation.
The UK's media watchdog, Ofcom, has referred Amazon and Microsoft's dominance of the cloud computing market to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for further investigation. Ofcom is concerned about features that make it difficult for UK businesses to switch cloud providers or use multiple services, particularly with market leaders Amazon and Microsoft. The CMA will examine the market and determine if any action should be taken. Ofcom identified concerns such as egress fees, technical barriers to interoperability, and committed spend discounts that may limit competition. Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure account for 60-70% of cloud spend in the UK, with the combined revenues of Amazon, Microsoft, and Google making up 81% of the market.
Ofcom will not take any action over Adjoa Andoh's comment that the King's Coronation was "terribly white" during ITV's coverage of the event, despite receiving over 8,000 complaints. The watchdog stated that the comment was a personal observation made during a wide-ranging panel discussion that contained a range of viewpoints. Andoh, who plays Lady Agatha Danbury in Netflix's Bridgerton, issued a statement in May following the backlash, stating that there was no intention to upset anyone and that she continues to celebrate the King.
UK media regulator Ofcom will not investigate comments made by Adjoa Andoh, who plays Lady Danbury in "Bridgerton," during the coronation of King Charles III last month. Andoh described the Royal Family's appearance on Buckingham Palace balcony "as terribly white." Her comments attracted 8,371 complaints to Ofcom, who said they would "assess" the criticism. However, Ofcom confirmed it would be taking no further action, stating that the comment was a personal observation which was part of a wide-ranging panel discussion which also touched on other diversity-related topics, and which contained a range of viewpoints.
UK media regulator Ofcom has decided not to investigate ITV's coverage of King Charles III's Coronation after receiving a record number of complaints about comments made by Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh, who accused the royal family of being "terribly white." Ofcom received 8,372 messages from disgruntled viewers, but decided that no further action was necessary as the regulator continues to emphasize the importance of freedom of expression on UK television. Separately, Ofcom also ruled out an investigation into Channel 4's Naked Education after receiving 1,412 complaints from viewers who were concerned about the show parading nude adults in front of young teenagers.
UK media regulator Ofcom has decided not to investigate ITV's coverage of King Charles III's Coronation after receiving a record number of complaints about comments made by Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh, who accused the royal family of being "terribly white." Ofcom received 8,372 messages from disgruntled viewers, but decided that no further action was necessary as the regulator continues to emphasize the importance of freedom of expression on UK television. Separately, Ofcom also ruled out an investigation into Channel 4's Naked Education after receiving 1,412 complaints from viewers who were concerned about the show parading nude adults in front of young teenagers.