All articles tagged with #ofcom
Channel 4’s documentary The Great ADHD Myth? has sparked backlash, with ADHD UK filing Ofcom complaints and critics calling it unbalanced, while others praise it for provoking debate; the program questions whether ADHD is a medical condition and features an experiment with a 10-year-old, drawing mixed reactions and a Channel 4 defence of its remit.
An Ofcom report found that Radio Caroline aired pre-recorded death notices for King Charles III during The Barry Marsh Show after a staffer accessed the files out of curiosity, triggering a panic and an on-air apology. The incident led to a program interruption, a later apology from the presenter, and highlighted strict protocols governing royal announcements, with only two complaints logged.
In May 2026, Radio Caroline aired a pre-recorded death announcement for King Charles III by mistake. The station apologized on air, and Ofcom ruled the incident breached two Broadcasting Code rules (accuracy/impartiality and correcting major mistakes). The staffer responsible was reprimanded, and the files are now stored off-site to prevent a repeat.
Radio Caroline briefly aired a pre-recorded death announcement for King Charles III, prompting an on-air apology and an Ofcom inquiry for breaches of the Broadcasting Code's accuracy/impartiality rules and for how corrections are issued; a staffer was reprimanded and storage measures were put in place to prevent recurrence.
Ofcom found that Radio Caroline breached its rules by inaccurately announcing the death of King Charles III during a May broadcast and by taking too long to acknowledge the error. The incident occurred when staff accessed pre-recorded death files during a remote stream; the presenter apologised about 30 minutes after the broadcast, the files were removed, and two complaints were received.
Radio Caroline breached Ofcom rules by erroneously announcing King Charles III’s death during a May broadcast; three pre-recorded obituary messages aired before a correction and apology 30 minutes later. Ofcom called the incident a very significant inaccuracy on a matter of high public interest. The error arose when staff accessed obituary files for posthumous use and panicked when it aired; the station—mostly volunteer-run—reprimanded the staffer and moved the files to prevent recurrence.
Radio Caroline breached Ofcom rules after an engineer opened pre-recorded files and accidentally broadcast a false report of King Charles III’s death on The Barry Marsh Show, followed by about 16 minutes of silence as the panicked presenter fled. Ofcom ruled it a significant inaccuracy about a public-importance issue; the station apologised, removed the files, and reprimanded the staff, with two complaints filed.
Regulators have simplified switching for broadband, energy and bank accounts, often requiring just one call or a few clicks to save hundreds. Ofcom’s One Touch Switch lets you switch by contacting the new provider only, and the Current Account Switch Service handles moving direct debits, balances and closing the old account. Energy switching is also streamlined, with tips to cut costs by paying monthly via direct debit and choosing fixed vs. variable tariffs, plus a reminder to watch for exit fees and to provide meter readings during the process. A recent Ofcom finding against Virgin Media highlights past switching friction, but overall the system now aims to make switching quicker and more reliable.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she is minded to intervene in Paramount’s $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to assess whether the deal serves UK public interests and affects media plurality for UK audiences. She has written to Paramount and WBD; representations are due by July 6. An intervention would trigger Ofcom to examine on‑demand services and the CMA to assess competition, with CMA’s merger inquiry already underway. Paramount maintains the deal raises no media-plurality concerns, while the EU is expected to clear by July 7.
The British government signaled it is likely to intervene in Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery on media-plurality grounds, with the culture secretary informing Parliament that she is minded to intervene. If pursued, Ofcom would assess public-interest considerations and the CMA would review competition, potentially prompting remedies (such as ending the UIP distribution JV). The move follows approvals in other jurisdictions and could affect the deal’s timeline.
Ian Russell, father of Molly Russell, says rushing government plans to curb children’s social media use is deplorable and warns that bans could backfire. The government is weighing restrictions such as an under-16 ban or targeting high-risk platforms, but details remain unclear. Russell advocates stronger enforcement of existing laws, while Ofcom defends progress but acknowledges gaps. New polling from the Molly Rose Foundation shows substantial exposure to high-risk content among girls and teens, underscoring ongoing safety concerns.
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.