Ofcom to expand oversight of BBC to improve impartiality
2 Min Read
Currently, the regulator controls the BBC's TV, radio, and on-demand content and a government statement revealed that the "majority" of viewer complaints are about the BBC's neutrality.
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People walk pasy the BBC Headquarters in London on October 18, 2022. (AP)
The UK government announced Monday that its media regulator Ofcom will have its oversight of the BBC expanded onto the public broadcaster's web products in an effort to strengthen audience confidence in its impartiality.
In October, the BBC's Broadcasting House in London was daubed with red paint by Palestine Action, a pro-Palestine group. The group said the action was done against BBC due to the network's "bias" and "manufacturing consent for the genocide of the Palestinian people."
Proving the point about biased Israeli propaganda. This action was done by us against BBC bias manufacturing consent for the genocide of the Palestinian people https://t.co/IZuWx6UdCH
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) October 14, 2023
After a mid-term review, the government stated that it has "recommended major reforms to help boost audience confidence in the BBC's impartiality and complaints system,"
Ofcom regulator controls the BBC's TV, radio, and on-demand content. The government statement revealed that the "majority" of viewer complaints are about the BBC's neutrality.
Read more: How language used in US media facilitates genocide
The statement explained that the extension of Ofcom's oversight to the BBC's online public services will allow for holding the channel "to account in a more robust way," detailing that with a binding legal responsibility, Ofcom will ensure that audiences have "greater confidence that their complaints have been handled fairly."
The UK government also expressed expectations that Ofcom and the board of BBC to implement recommendations " in a "timely manner."
