Ofcom has published a blog examining the placement of age checks, referred to as ‘age gates,’ on pornography websites. It notes that while many services, including the UK’s ten most popular pornography sites, have introduced age checks, the point at which these checks appear in the user journey varies and is important for compliance with the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023).

Ofcom has made a call for evidence on the amends that the Media Act 2024 introduces to the listed events regime. This regime applies to broadcast coverage of specific events of national interest like the Grand National, the FA Cup final, and the Olympic Games. The amends seek to ensure that 'qualifying services', which benefit from the regime, can only be provided by public service broadcasters (PSBs), like the BBC and ITV. It aims to ensure that rights to live coverage of listed events are offered to PSBs, as well as to other services which are termed 'non-qualifying services'. The Media Act also broadens the scope of the regime so that a range of new providers, including streaming services, will in future be subject to the rules. It does not change which events are, or are not, listed events (a matter for the Secretary of State). As part of implementing these changes, Ofcom is required to define a number of terms used in the regime and to revise its Code on listed events. It is seeking evidence on how viewing of listed events has been impacted by changes in audiences’ viewing preferences, and by changes in technology and in the wider media landscape, as well as how rights for listed events are packaged and sold.

Ofcom has closed its investigation into the provider of an online suicide discussion forum after issuing a Confirmation Decision finding breaches of several duties under the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023). Ofcom concluded that changes made during the investigation, including a strengthened geoblock preventing access for the vast majority of UK users, meant the statutory grounds for seeking a business disruption measures order were not met. However, this does not affect the provider's obligation to pay the £950,000 penalty imposed by Ofcom, and the regulator has initiated action to pursue the unpaid debt.

Ofcom has confirmed that the new rule reducing the timeframe before consumers can access alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the telecoms sector applies to complaints raised from 8 April 2026 onwards. Under the updated rule, residential and small business consumers will be able to take unresolved complaints to ADR after six weeks, instead of the previous eight-week timeframe, unless the complaint reaches deadlock earlier.

The Office of Communications (Ofcom) has reported that British Telecommunications (BT) has completed all remedial actions required following a £2.8m penalty imposed just over a year ago for failing to provide contract documents to EE and Plusnet customers. As part of the enforcement action, BT has been directed to amend its non-compliant sales processes to ensure that new customers receive all required documents and to take reasonable steps to refund customers who had been charged early termination fees despite not receiving their contract documentation. In response, BT has successfully refunded or credited £18m to affected customer accounts. In instances where the company was unable to trace or refund affected customers, BT donated approximately £440,000 across 17 different charities. With the completion of these remedial actions, Ofcom has now concluded its investigation into BT’s breaches regarding contract documentation.

Ofcom has published an update on its assessment of Three’s Shared Rural Network (SRN) coverage obligations, following a September 2024 statement on the compliance of four UK mobile network operators with the SRN obligations, which found that Three had not met the UK-wide and Scotland coverage thresholds. In the update, Ofcom stated that Three had communicated it had met the outstanding UK-wide and Scotland thresholds on 22 August 2024, and provided additional data in response to a formal information request on 16 September 2024. Based on the information shared, Ofcom has confirmed that Three has met all the thresholds and as such, no enforcement action will be taken against the mobile network operator.

Ofcom has announced its approach to information-gathering when it makes requests for information held by stakeholders under the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023). Ofcom reminds stakeholders that as an evidence-based regulator, it has the power to formally request information from them to fulfil its duties of developing effective and proportionate online safety regulations. These statutory information requests are issued when stakeholders are believed to possess information necessary for keeping UK users safer online. The Information Registry team co-ordinates the requests and guides stakeholders through the process of responding to these formal requests for information. Ofcom reiterates that online services have a legal duty to comply with requests for information and failure to do so may lead to enforcement action that can result in significant consequences under Ofcom's enforcement procedures.

Ofcom has confirmed that the enhanced Notification of Transfer (NoT+) should be decommissioned on 24 October 2024, following the extension of the NoT+ functionality due to the slow progress in One Touch Switch (OTS) implementation in September 2024. Ofcom's enforcement programme will review the conduct of all industry participants and monitor compliance with the General Conditions in order to determine whether it is appropriate to open investigations into individual providers.

Ofcom has confirmed that from 25 July 2025, major online pornography providers, including PornHub, will implement robust age assurance measures to comply with the Online Safety Act 2023. This follows Ofcom’s announcement that all UK-accessible pornographic sites and apps must prevent under-18s from encountering harmful content. The move follows new research revealing that children as young as eight are accessing pornography online.

Ofcom has published a statement confirming that it will implement its proposals for a prioritised spectrum sharing framework in the upper 6 GHz band. The framework will comprise a Wi-Fi priority portion in the lower 160 MHz of the band (6425–6585 MHz) and a mobile priority portion in the upper 540 MHz (6585–7125 MHz). Ofcom states that the Wi-Fi priority portion will be made available on the same licence-exempt basis as the Lower 6 GHz band and that licence-exempt Wi-Fi access will also be permitted in the mobile priority portion for devices under the control of an automated frequency coordination system.

Ofcom has launched a consultation regarding its draft report to the Secretary of State on the designation of Television Selection Services (TSS) under the Media Act. The regulator proposes designating 14 connected TV platforms that meet a minimum threshold of 700,000 active users, including major platforms such as Amazon Fire TV OS, Android TV and Sky Entertainment OS. The consultation, which closes on 16 September 2025, outlines recommendations for ensuring public service broadcasting content remains accessible and prominent on designated platforms. The proposals would apply to current versions of TSS platforms as of July 2025 and subsequent updates.

Ofcom has launched a consultation on amending Rule 5.3 of its Broadcasting Code following a High Court ruling that confirmed the current rule only restricts politicians from presenting news in designated 'news programmes'. The proposed amendment would extend the restriction to all television and radio programmes. The consultation aims to address the increasingly blurred distinction between news and current affairs content, and responds to the growing trend of politicians presenting broadcast programmes. The consultation starts on the 12 May to 23 June 2025.