OFCOM
UK probes Meta over safety risks of Instagram Instants feature
Instants is a feature on Instagram that lets users share content that vanishes after everyone has seen it. This means you can post photos or videos without worrying about them sticking around forever.
Meta, TikTok, X challenge UK watchdog over online safety data demands
The challenge is one of the first in relation to the 2023 Online Safety Act, which sets tougher standards for platforms such as TikTok, X and Meta's Facebook and Instagram with the aim to protect children from harmful and illegal content.
YouTube’s creator middle class is pulling up a seat at the investment table
Investment firms are recognizing YouTubers as a growing, underserved market. These firms offer capital and tools to help creators scale their businesses. The creator economy is projected to grow significantly in the coming years. While some caution exists, this marks a tipping point for online content creators. External capital is making a difference for creators needing business support.
Telegram says app restored on Apple's App Store
Telegram announced its messaging application has been restored on the App Store. The app was temporarily unavailable for users worldwide earlier today. Reuters checks confirmed its absence from the digital marketplace. Apple did not immediately provide a comment on the situation. The messaging service should soon be accessible again for all users.
UK regulator to probe TikTok on child safety measures
Britain's media regulator has launched an investigation into TikTok. Ofcom will assess TikTok's child protection measures and content filtering systems. This follows a government ban on social media for users under sixteen. TikTok denies any breaches and states it meets its obligations. The regulator has not yet reached any conclusions on the matter.
Meta challenges UK media regulator over online safety fees
Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, is taking legal action against Britain's media regulator, Ofcom. The challenge concerns how fees and penalties are determined under the government's Online Safety Act. Ofcom stated that Meta is objecting to payments calculated based on a provider's 'Qualifying Worldwide Revenue'. The regulator will strongly defend its decisions and reasoning in this matter.
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UK watchdogs press Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube to block children
Britain's regulators are pushing social media giants for tougher age verification. Ofcom and ICO are concerned about children's exposure to harmful content. Platforms like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube must improve age checks by April 30. Regulators warn of significant fines if companies fail to comply with the new Online Safety Act measures.
UK to regulate Netflix and other streamers in line with broadcasters
Streaming services with more than 500,000 UK users will have to adhere to the new standards, which include ensuring news is reported accurately and impartially, and audiences are protected against harmful or offensive material. Ofcom will have powers to investigate and take action where it considers there has been a breach of the code, the government said.
UK regulator launches investigation into X over Grok sexualised imagery
Britain’s media regulator Ofcom has opened an investigation into Elon Musk’s X over alleged misuse of its Grok AI chatbot to generate sexual deepfakes. The probe follows political pressure after Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the content as unlawful. Ofcom will assess whether X failed to protect UK users, particularly children, from illegal material.
Britain fines porn website $1.3 million over age checks failure
Britain has fined AVS Group £1 million for failing to implement effective age checks on its 18 adult websites, the largest penalty under the new Online Safety Act. An additional £50,000 was imposed for not responding to information requests. Ofcom warned the fine could rise if issues are not fixed.
BBC accepts sanction over 'misleading' Gaza documentary
The UK media watchdog on Friday sanctioned the BBC for a Gaza documentary whose child narrator was later revealed to be the son of Hamas's former deputy minister of agriculture, branding it "materially misleading". The BBC said it accepted Ofcom's ruling because the documentary, initially broadcast on February 17, had failed to disclose the relationship.
Britain issues first online safety fine to US website 4chan
Britain has fined internet forum site 4chan twenty thousand pounds. This is the first penalty under the new online safety law. Regulator Ofcom issued the fine for failing to provide information. 4chan did not respond to requests about illegal content risks. The fine will increase daily if not paid.
Wikipedia will not appeal dismissal of its UK Online Safety Act challenge
The US government has criticised Britain's new online law, along with a similar policy in the European Union, and President Donald Trump could bring it up in reference to his concerns around free speech during his state visit next week.
Britain sets first codes of practice for tech firms in online safety regime
Media regulator Ofcom said that according to the new code, reporting and complaint functions must be more accessible and user-friendly. High-risk providers will be mandated to employ automated tools, such as hash-matching and URL detection, to identify child sexual abuse material.
UK fines TikTok over child safety data reporting
British telecommunications regulator Ofcom said Wednesday it had handed video sharing platform TikTok a 1.9 million pound ($2.4 million) fine for failing to timely make available safety data. "Ofcom has today fined TikTok £1.875 million for failing to accurately respond to a formal request for information about its parental controls safety feature," the regulator said in a statement.
UK regulator demands tech firms shield children from harmful content
Social media platforms will be hit by fines of up to $22.5 million unless they take action to ensure their algorithms do not direct children towards harmful content, the UK communications regulator Ofcom said Wednesday. The new measures are due to come into force next year, with rule-breakers facing fines of up to £18 million ($22.5 million) or 10 percent of their revenue.
Ofcom’s most complained about TV show in 2023 revealed
Laurence Fox's misogynistic outburst on Dan Wootton Tonight led to his dismissal from GB News, making it the most complained-about TV show of 2023, surpassing even Bridgerton star Adjoah Andoh's controversial remarks during King Charles III's Coronation.
Good Morning Britain Host Asks MP if She Had Prior Knowledge of Hamas Attack, Gets Over 2,000 Complaints
In a controversial Good Morning Britain episode, Richard Madeley's inquiry to British lawmaker Layla Moran about her family ties to Gaza and any advance information regarding Hamas's attack on Israel sparked nearly 2,400 complaints to the UK media regulator, Ofcom.
UK regulator asks for antitrust probe into Amazon, Microsoft cloud dominance
UK media regulator Ofcom has requested the country's antitrust regulator, the CMA, to investigate the dominance of Amazon and Microsoft in the UK cloud market. Ofcom's study revealed that the market position of these tech giants makes it difficult for UK businesses to switch or use multiple cloud providers.
UK regulator to push for probe into Amazon, Microsoft cloud dominance
Between them, Amazon and Microsoft enjoy a combined market share of 60-70%. Meanwhile, their closest competitor, Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O), has around 10%.
Amazon, Microsoft cloud services face UK antitrust probe
Ofcom, which started looking into cloud services last year, said it was particularly worried about the practices of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft because of their market positions, and planned to ask the competition regulator to investigate.
Britain's cloud market needs competition probe, regulator says
The communications regulator said on Wednesday it had uncovered practices and features that made it more difficult for customers to switch and use multiple cloud suppliers, prompting it to refer the issue to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority for further investigation.
TikTok, Snapchat growing in popularity among UK children: media regulator
The study found a slight increase in both apps' popularity in the past year, with TikTok now being used by 53% of children (up from 50%), and Snapchat by 46% (up from 42%).
Snapchat blocks fewer children from its app in Britain compared with TikTok, shows data
According to figures recently published by the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Young Children), Snapchat accounted for 43% of cases in which social media was used to distribute indecent images of children.
Khalsa TV surrenders UK broadcast licence over Khalistani propaganda
The Office of Communications (Ofcom) announced on Tuesday that having received Ofcom's draft revocation notice on May 26, Khalsa Television Limited has now surrendered its licence.
UK media watchdog suspends Khalsa TV licence over Khalistani propaganda
The communications regulator said the 95-minute live discussion programme included material likely to "incite violence".
Britain revokes UK licence of Russian TV channel
The move follows a similar ban issued by the European Union earlier this month as Western nations seek to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine.
UK media watchdog fines Zakir Naik's Peace TV 300,000 pounds for 'hate speech'
"We concluded that the content represented serious failures of compliance with our broadcasting rules, which warranted fines. Ofcom has today fined the former licence holders of Peace TV Urdu 200,000 pounds and Peace TV 100,000 pounds for breaking our broadcasting rules," Ofcom said in a statement.
Fox-Sky deal faces further delay as UK seeks more clarity
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has asked communications regulator Ofcom to clarify some points in its original review of the deal.
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