Delays to UK’s full-fibre broadband rollout ‘could cost £30bn’ April 27, 2020 Delays to the government’s plan to roll out superfast broadband across the country could see the UK lose almost £30bn in economic benefits, according to research published today. Telecoms analysts warned a 12-month delay to the 2025 target would mean the UK misses out on a £9.7bn boost to the economy, while a two-year setback [...]
UK tech sector launches industry body to tackle online harms April 27, 2020 The UK tech sector has teamed up with government agencies to launch a new trade association aimed at cracking down on harmful material posted online. The Online Safety Tech Industry Association (OSTIA), launched today, will bring together more than a dozen tech firms that focus on online safety, as well as organisations such as the [...]
Ofcom sanctions London Live over David Icke coronavirus conspiracy interview April 20, 2020 Ofcom has sanctioned London Live after the TV channel aired an interview with conspiracy theorist David Icke that contained “potentially harmful” views about the coronavirus outbreak. The regulator received 48 complaints about the 80-minute programme, in which Icke made a raft of unsubstantiated claims, including that official health advice was designed to further the ambitions [...]
Ofcom probes This Morning over Eamonn Holmes’ coronavirus 5G conspiracy comments April 14, 2020 Media watchdog Ofcom is assessing This Morning after presenter Eamonn Holmes questioned why the mainstream media had slapped down a conspiracy theory linking the spread of the coronavirus to 5G masts. On Monday Holmes, a host on the ITV show, said that the media did not know if the conspiracy theory was true or not. [...]
Broadband firms to remove data caps during coronavirus crisis March 29, 2020 All UK broadband firms have agreed to remove data allowance caps during the coronavirus crisis under a new deal struck with the government. Internet service providers and mobile operators including BT/EE, Openreach, Virgin Media, Sky, O2 and Vodafone have agreed to a number of measures, effective immediately, designed to ensure all Brits have access to [...]
Daily Mail gets green light for £50m takeover of the i newspaper March 25, 2020 The owner of the Daily Mail has been given the green light for its £50m takeover of the i newspaper. Daily Mail and General Trust, which also owns Metro, agreed the deal in November last year with the i’s current owner JPI Media. The government said it was “minded” to intervene in the merger due [...]
Ofcom draws up new rules to protect reality TV stars March 15, 2020 Ofcom has laid out a revised set of rules aimed at protecting participants in TV and radio programmes. The regulator’s intervention comes after the deaths of two former Love Island contestants and host Caroline Flack, as well as a former guest on the now-cancelled Jeremy Kyle Show. Ofcom said it had also seen a “steady [...]
Tech giants urged to pre-screen content to stop child sexual abuse March 12, 2020 Tech giants should be forced to pre-screen all content uploaded to their platforms in a bid to stem the “explosion” of online child sexual abuse, an inquiry has found. In a damning report published today the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) said tech giants had failed to do everything they could to prevent [...]
Budget 2020: Government confirms £5bn broadband boost March 11, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak today confirmed that the government will pump £5bn into its plan to roll out full-fibre broadband across the UK. The broadband pledge formed a major part of the Conservatives’ election manifesto as part of its promise to “level up” the UK. Prime Minister Boris Johnson last year laid out an ambitious pledge [...]
New government cyber unit to grill social media firms over coronavirus fake news March 9, 2020 The government has set up a new cyber team to crack down on the spreading of fake news linked to the coronavirus outbreak on social media platforms. Departments across Whitehall have been brought in to form a new unit aimed at assessing the potential extent, scope and impact of fake news. The team will also [...]