OFcom - Censorship

 OFCOM

The Office of Communications or more commonly known as OFCOM is the primary regulator for Britain that mainly regulates Tv shows and the Postal service. 

They make sure that programs does not contain any offensive, inappropriate or similar content for audiences. In the UK there is also a watershed, Where programs above the times of  05:30 AM to 21:00 PM must be age appropriate for kids. While Contents above those times are allowed for a more adult audience. 

But OFCOM cannot censor any programs that has not been released, They can only censor shows that has been released. But these censors or bans completely depends on audience and their complaints, If the audience doesn't complain no action would be made unless the content is extremely offensive. 

 Though, not all complains would result in bans or fines. Only some extremely rare ones would result in fines or in even rarer cases a license revoke. This is because OFCOM reviews the programs and investigates based on context, legality and offensiveness. 

Case Study

RT - License Revoke 

RT is a Russian funded State owned Television broadcaster that operate channels that specifically targets audiences internationally or outside or Russia.  It was founded in 2005 Moscow, Russia and Previously is broadcasting in countries such as America, Britain, Germany and many notable others. 

Though, Just recently following complaints and an subsequent investigation by OFCOM. RT has their license revoked in the United Kingdom, Effectively preventing them from being able to show their news or products to people in Britain. While OFCOM does have the authority in revoking licenses, Such action has rarely ever happened.

There was a few reasons behind the revoke but following OFCOM's investigation,  They consider that RT's coverage of the Invasion of Ukraine is impartial with actual and current news. In addition, OFTOM noted that RT is a Russian State funded Tv Channel who's Government has practically banned any form of free journalism apart from State owned Media, This is a direct violation of the UKs freedom expression where the audience have the right of receiving information without any interference. Taking all that into account, to maintain the people's trust on the UKs Broadcasting regime and following previous offences by RT that resulted in fines, OFCOM finally came to their decision.