Tag

Ofcom

All articles tagged with #ofcom

business10 days ago•16 min saved

UK Signals Possible Intervention in Paramount-WBD Merger Over Public Interest

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.

via Deadline|

#business #cma #media-plurality

business11 days ago•16 min saved

UK Signals Possible Intervention in Paramount-Warner Bros. Takeover Over Media Plurality

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.

via Variety|

#business #cma #media-plurality

politics28 days ago•4 min saved

Father of Molly Russell condemns rushed social media limits

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.

via BBC|

#ian-russell #molly-russell #ofcom

technology1 month ago•5 min saved

Ofcom flags TikTok and YouTube as unsafe for kids, urges tougher safeguards

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.

via BBC|

#ofcom #online-safety #technology

technology5 months ago•12 min saved

Two Lives, One Mission: Ian Russell's fight for safer social media

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.

via The Guardian|

#molly #ofcom #online-harms

technology5 months ago•4 min saved

Grok Nudification Sparks Fresh Question Over X’s Moderation

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.

via The Guardian|

#ai-safety #nudification #ofcom

policy5 months ago•3 min saved

UK weighs court-ordered ban on X under Online Safety Act amid AI image controversy

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.

via The Guardian|

#ban #business-disruption-measures #ofcom

technology6 months ago•2 min saved

Regulators and Tech Giants Move to Ban or Restrict X's AI Deepfake and Sexual Content

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.

via BBC|

#ai-deepfakes #grok #ofcom

technology6 months ago•1 min saved

Amazon mistakenly streams adult-rated films to children

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.

via BBC|

#amazon #film-error #ofcom

technology11 months ago•2 min saved

Ofcom investigates and enforces age verification on UK porn sites and online platforms

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.

via BBC|

#age-verification #ofcom #online-safety

radio-broadcasting2 years ago•1 min saved

"Sunshine Radio Ends 30-Year Medium Wave Broadcast"

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.

via BBC.com|

#am-transmitter #fm-broadcasting #medium-wave

technology2 years ago•5 min saved

UK Implements Tough New Online Safety Rules to Protect Children and Combat Illegal Content

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.

via The Verge|

#illegal-content #ofcom #online-safety-act

government-regulation2 years ago•3 min saved

King Charles III Calls for Streamer Regulation in UK, Targets Netflix and Disney+

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.

via Hollywood Reporter|

#government-regulation #media-bill #ofcom

technology2 years ago•3 min saved

"UK Regulator Launches Antitrust Probe into Amazon and Microsoft's Cloud Dominance"

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.

via CNBC|

#amazon-web-services #cloud-computing #competition-probe

entertainment3 years ago•2 min saved

Ofcom won't investigate Adjoa Andoh's "terribly white" comment on ITV's King Charles III Coronation.

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.

via BBC|

#adjoa-andoh #buckingham-palace #diversity