Search results : 805

On 23 January 2025, the UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, imposed a GBP 7 000 fine on UK-based video-sharing platform (VSP) MintStars for failing to adequately protect minors from explicit content. The regulator determined that the platform’s safeguards, relying on user self-declaration and disclaimers, were insufficient under the Communications Act 2003. Ofcom’s investigation and findings Earlier on 27 February 2024, Ofcom launched an investigation into MintStars to determine whether it had complied with its statutory obligations under Part 4B of the Communications...

The Property (Digital Assets Etc.) Bill (the Bill) was introduced to the UK Parliament via the House of Lords on 11 September 2024, and its purpose is to make provision about the types of things that are capable of being objects of personal property rights. Since the Bill’s introduction, it has had its first and second reading and now awaits the committee (the date of which has yet to be set) and report stages, before its third reading in the House of Lords. After its passage through the upper chamber the Bill will be transferred to the House of Commons to follow a similar process to determine...

The Data (Use and Access) Bill (DUAB) was introduced in the House of Lords in October 2024. The report stage started on 21 January 2025. It is essentially a revised version of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (DPDI) which fell when the 2024 General Election was called. The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (SoS) is responsible for the DUAB. Parts of the DPDI such as the removal of records of processing activities, data protection impact assessments, exemptions for vexatious data subject access requests (DSARs), and the shift from Data Protection Officers...

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is ramping up its regulatory scrutiny of social media influencers, popularly known as “finfluencers”, who use their platforms to promote financial products. In a significant development, the FCA has called in 20 individuals for interviews under caution. In conjunction with these interviews, the FCA issued 38 alerts targeting social media accounts managed by finfluencers suspected of promoting financial products unlawfully. These recent actions form part of the FCA’s ongoing strategy to curb misleading financial promotions, particularly...

An Ofcom investigation concluded that GB News' "People’s Forum: the Prime Minister" (the Programme) broadcast on 12 February 2024 broke broadcasting due impartiality rules (see IRIS 2024-6). Subsequently, on 4 October 2024, Ofcom indicated that its initial view is that this represents serious and repeated breaches by GB News of the impartiality rules. Ofcom is starting the process to determine whether a statutory sanction against GB News should be applied. The Sanction Panel will reconsider this initial determination about the Programme which comprised a live, hour-long...