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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Jun 26

📢 We've outlined how we plan to set fees and penalties under the Online Safety Act.

Tech firms will fund our work based on their qualifying worldwide revenue, just like in other sectors we regulate. Learn more about our approach here: www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Jun 10

🚨 9 new online safety investigations.

We're investigating whether 4chan, a porn provider and seven file-sharing services have failed to comply with their duties under the Online Safety Act.

🔗 Find out more: www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

'Nine new online safety investigations into 4chan, file-sharing services, and a porn provider'

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · May 12

We’re proposing a change to our broadcasting rules.

Under this change, politicians could still present programmes, but could not be a newsreader, news interviewer or news reporter in any type of programme, without exceptional editorial justification.

www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and...

Consultation on change to broadcasting rules for ‘politicians as presenters’

www.ofcom.org.uk

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · May 7

Check out the latest trends for how people in the UK live their lives online:

🤖 AI is on the rise, but not trusted by all
🚫 Scams and fake profiles
📱 Smartphone use

Find out more here: www.ofcom.org.uk/media-use-an...

'Top trends in UK media lives - our latest research on how people in the UK access, use, and perceive their online and media lives.'

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Apr 24

🔒 Children in the UK will lead safer online lives as we've finalised safety measures for sites and apps to introduce from July.

Tech firms must act to prevent children from seeing harmful content, and meet their duties under the Online Safety Act

➡️ Read more: www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

'New rules for a safer generation of children online. What changes will there be?'

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Apr 10

📻 We have reviewed BBC plans for new DAB+ radio stations.

We are proposing to:
✅ Green light new Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Anthems, and Radio 3 Unwind.
🟥 Deny plans for a new Radio 2 station and expanded Radio 5 Sports Extra.

More 🔗 www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and...

Ofcom proposals
in response to BBC radio expansion plans

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Apr 9

We've launched an investigation into whether the provider of an online suicide forum has failed to comply with its duties under the Online Safety Act.

Read more here: www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

'Ofcom investigates online suicide forum'

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Mar 17

🚨 From today, tech platforms must start tackling criminal content on their sites to protect their users.

This includes removing child sexual abuse material, fraud and illegal content encouraging suicide.

Read more 🔗 ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

'Platforms must now take action against illegal material online'.

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Feb 25

📢 We're calling on tech companies to make the online world safer for women and girls.

Our draft guidance - shaped by victims, survivors and safety experts - outlines key areas where platforms should do more.

➡️ Read more: www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

Text that says: "Women and girls face real risks online - and many tech companies are failing to act" and image of woman's reflection in cracked phone screen.

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Jan 30

The universal postal service needs reform to remain sustainable. We propose:

📨 First class to still be delivered next day, six days a week.
📩 Second class delivered on alternate weekdays - within three days.
🚫 No Saturday deliveries for Second Class.

More 🔗 www.ofcom.org.uk/post/royal-m...

Ofcom proposes changes to protect the postal service for the future

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Jan 29

🚨 New blocking measures to protect people from 'spoof' calls.

Phone companies must now block overseas calls pretending to be from UK landlines, under our strengthened industry guidance.

Read more about our work to clamp down on scams: www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-b...

Hand holding phone and text that says: "Tired of scam calls?"

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Jan 28

📻 Applications for the latest round of small-scale DAB radio multiplexes are now open.

Small-scale DAB helps to bring more local radio to listeners across the UK, from grass-roots community services to specialist music stations.

Find out more here: www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and...

New small-scale DAB multiplex licences
Arbroath, Carnoustie & Montrose
Bridgwater
Bromsgrove, Kidderminster & Redditch
Cirencester
Ely & March
Enniskillen
Exmouth & Dawlish
Gloucester
Lancaster
Llanelli
Loughborough & Coalville
Malton
Market Harborough
Midlothian
Moray Coast South
Newark-on-Trent
North Berkshire & South Oxfordshire
North Norfolk
North Somerset
Oban
Ringwood, Verwood & Fordingbridge
Rugby & Daventry
Stockton-on-Tees
Wellingborough
West Oxfordshire
West Somerset & Lynton
Western Isles
Weston-super-Mare
Worcester

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Jan 21

🔎 Is your business in scope of the Online Safety Act?

We've launched our digital toolkit to help businesses comply with new online safety rules. 🛠️

Find out more: www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

Ofcom launches digital safety toolkit for online services

Ofcom has launched a digital toolkit to help businesses comply with new online safety rules.

www.ofcom.org.uk

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Reposted by Ofcom

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Jan 16

Stronger age checks to come into force for online pornography sites in UK

Regulator Ofcom releases guidelines that call for use of face scans, credit cards checks or photo-ID Users accessing online pornography in the UK could soon be required to have their face scanned, under measures announced by Ofcom to stop children seeing…

www.theguardian.com

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Jan 16

Online services must introduce age checks to protect children from encountering porn.

Our new guidance sets out how we expect sites and apps to introduce highly effective age assurance, while protecting adults' privacy rights.

Find out more: www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

White text on blue background with image of computer with pixelated screen. Text that reads: "Age checks to protect children from online porn."

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Dec 19

This does not include complaints about BBC programmes, which are handled by the BBC in the first instances www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and...

How Ofcom deals with BBC complaints – what you need to know

As the UK regulator responsible for overseeing content broadcast on TV, radio and video on-demand (VoD), Ofcom handles thousands of complaints from viewers and listeners every year, covering a range o...

www.ofcom.org.uk

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Dec 19

📢 Top 10 most complained-about TV shows of 2024 revealed.

In 2024 we received over 69K complaints about 9K cases, with the top 10 accounting for 61% of all complaints.

Find out more 🔗 www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and...

Top 10 most complained about TV programmes 2024
Julia Hartley-Brewer, TalkTV, 3 January – 17,366 complaints
Good Morning Britain, ITV1, 5 August – 16,851 complaints
Love Island, ITV2, 24 July – 1,832 complaints
Good Morning Britain, ITV1, 30 May – 1,777 complaints
Emmerdale, ITV1, 27 and 28 May – 1,193 complaints
Big Brother, ITV2, 7 November – 747 complaints
Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate, ITV1, 4 June – 710 complaints
Good Morning Britain, ITV1, 2 October – 705 complaints
This Morning, ITV1, 28 May – 647 complaints
Big Brother, ITV2, 22 October – 553 complaints

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Dec 16

Platforms have until March 2025 to conduct risk assessments for their sites and must then start implementing these measures.

We won’t hesitate to use the full extent of our enforcement powers if they fall short.

🔗 Find out more: www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

"For too long, sites and apps have been unregulated, unaccountable and unwilling to prioritise people’s safety over profits. That changes from today.

The safety spotlight is now firmly on tech firms and it’s time for them to act.

Those that come up short can expect Ofcom to use the full extent of our enforcement powers against them. " Melanie Dawes, Ofcom CEO

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Dec 16

🚨 A major milestone in online safety.

Sites and apps must now start taking action to protect people from illegal harm online.

Key measures include:
🔒 Senior accountability for safety
🛠️ Improved content moderation and reporting systems
🛡️ Protecting children from abuse

The Online Safety Act has come into force. Tech firms now have new legal duties to protect people from illegal harms online.

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Dec 13

We've fined Royal Mail £10.5m for failing to meet its delivery targets in 2023/24.

74.7% of First Class mail and 92.7% of Second Class was delivered on time, well short of its target of 93% and 98.5%.

🔗 Read more: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/royal-m...

Red post box on a blue background, with the words 'Royal Mail fined £10.5m'

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Dec 12

Thanks for spotting and apologies for that. We've corrected it and reposted.

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Dec 12

Social tariff take-up surges to over 500,000, offering broadband and mobile customers savings of up to £220 a year.

But our new research shows millions of eligible UK households are unaware and missing out on these deals.

Find out more: 🔗 www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-b...

A bar graph and pie chart showing social tariff take-up by provider in Q2 2024.
Bar graph:
Title: Social tariff take-up
Y-axis: Number of homes
X-axis: Quarter
Data:
Q2 2022: 80,000 homes
Q2 2023: 311,000 homes
Q2 2024: 506,000 homes
Pie chart:
Title: Q2 2024 take-up, by provider
Data:
BT: 63%
Sky: 18%
Vodafone: 7%
Virgin Media: 5%
Shell Energy 4%
KCOM: 1%
Others (inc. mobile): 2%
Additional notes:
An illustration of a smartphone and a router is included in the bar graph.

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Dec 10

At this time of year, be extra vigilant about scams:

🛍️ Online shopping scams could see you parted from your money.
📦 Beware of dodgy parcel delivery messages.
🚗 Parking scams are rife – be careful when using car parks.

Find out more: www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-b...

Seasonal scams to watch out for

At this time of year it pays to be extra vigilant when it comes to scams. So, we wanted to remind you of a few common scams to watch out for, to help you avoid falling victim.

www.ofcom.org.uk

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Dec 5

Our latest data shows a sharp rise in UK homes taking up satellite broadband to keep connected.

87,000 homes, mainly in rural areas, now use satellite services – up from 42,000 last year.

Read for more: www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-b...

Animated image of a satellite transmitting signals to Earth with the headline: Satellite broadband connections have more than doubled in the last year.

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Ofcom @ofcom.bsky.social · Dec 5

Our new figures on the UK's broadband and mobile coverage are out. They reveal:

🛜 More than 20 million homes can now get full-fibre broadband.
⚡Average max download speeds now 223 Mbit/s.
📱5G coverage rises, but most mobile traffic still on 4G.

Read for more: www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-b...

Map showing percentage of UK properties with access to different broadband speeds: Gigabit-capable (83%), Full Fibre (69%), Superfast (98%), Unable to get decent broadband (0.2%). Scotland: Gigabit-capable (77%), Full Fibre (62%), Superfast (96%), Unable to get decent (0.5%). Northern Ireland: Gigabit-capable (94%), Full Fibre (93%), Superfast (98%), Unable to get decent (0.2%). Wales: Gigabit-capable (74%), Full Fibre (68%), Superfast (96%), Unable to get decent (0.5%). England: Gigabit-capable (84%), Full Fibre (69%), Superfast (98%), Unable to get decent (0.1%).

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