Ofcom

What Ofcom means

Ofcom (Office of Communications) is the UK's converged regulator for the communications sector, established under the Communications Act 2003. Its remit covers broadcasting, telecommunications, postal services, the radio spectrum, and — under the Online Safety Act 2023 — online platforms hosting user-generated content. Under the Online Safety regime, Ofcom designates services as Category 1, 2A, or 2B based on user base and functionality, and enforces duties of care covering illegal content, content harmful to children, and (for the largest platforms) certain categories of legal-but-harmful content for adults. Ofcom can impose financial penalties of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue or £18 million (whichever is greater) and, in extreme cases, seek business-disruption measures including service blocking. Ofcom publishes investigation outcomes, codes of practice, and enforcement decisions through its website and a separate sanctions register. AuditSocials monitors Ofcom enforcement decisions, codes of practice publications, and Online Safety designations affecting in-scope platforms.