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The Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) introduced a range of measures intended to improve online safety in the UK, including duties on internet platforms about having systems and processes in place to manage illegal and harmful content on their sites. On 31 January 2024, Part 10 of the Act came into effect, introducing a series of new criminal offences which represent a significant leap forward in tackling complex challenges surrounding online communications safety. Section 179 of the OSA establishes the criminal offence of sending false communications and seeks to target, among others, internet...

On 2 February 2024, the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee (a Lords Select Committee that considers the media, digital and creative industries) published its inquiry report on large language models (LLMs) and generative AI. The Committee forecasts AI development trends over the next three years, contrasting them with the regulatory stance outlined in the government’s March 2023 AI White Paper. It criticises the government’s disproportionate emphasis on AI safety, warning of missed opportunities. Priority recommendations highlighted in the report include support for...

On 6 February 2024, the UK Government published its consultation response to the AI Regulation White Paper detailing initiatives supporting individual regulators to provide tools and develop skills to address the risks and opportunities of AI. Key regulators are required to publish their plans about AI risks and opportunities by 30 April 2024. Many regulators have already published proposals; the Information Commissioner’s Office, for example, has updated data protection laws applying to AI systems. Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority therefore have until...

On 30 January 2024 the Media Bill (the Bill) passed its third reading in the House of Commons, having been introduced to parliament in November 2023. The Bill is aimed at protecting Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, STV and S4C from unfair competition from less regulated streaming services and online providers. It will be considered by the House of Lords inthe remaining stages before it can become law by receiving Royal Assent later this year, after which the regulator Ofcom will consult about implementing the legislative changes. The Bill reduces...

The GB News programme "The Live Desk" promoted the broadcaster’s campaign called "Don’t Kill Cash" to promote the use of cash. Ofcom considered that the campaign was addressing an issue of political controversy and related to current public policy. The GB News campaign breached Rule 5.4 of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code which requires licensees to exclude all expressions of the views and opinions of the person providing the service. Further, GB News breached rule 5.5 requiring a broadcaster to preserve due impartiality on matters of political or industrial controversy...