Tag: OFCOM
Social media sites face tougher age checks under new Ofcom rules
Ofcom has warned social media sites they could be banned for under-18s completely if they fail to comply with new online safety rules. The media regulator has published a children's safety draft code of practice, which requires social media firms to have more robust age-checking measures in place. Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes warned any…
Ofcom investigates OnlyFans age verification process
Ofcom has today opened an investigation into whether OnlyFans is doing enough to prevent children from accessing pornography on its site. Under existing regulations that pre-date the UK’s new Online Safety Act, video-sharing platforms (VSPs) established in the UK are required to take appropriate measures to prevent under-18s from accessing pornographic material. In response to…
1 in 4 Kids Under 7 have their own smartphone, claims Ofcom study
Infant school children are increasingly online and given more digital independence by parents, according to Ofcom’s annual study of children’s relationship with the media and online worlds. Around a quarter of 5-7 year-olds (24%) now own a smartphone, while three-quarters use a tablet (76%). Compared to a year ago, a higher proportion of 5-7s go online to…
1 in 4 Under 7s have smartphone, thousands of Tesla Cybertrucks recalled
A quarter of children under seven have their own smartphone, new figures reveal, with some as young as three owning the devices. Research from technology regulator Ofcom found a sharp increase in ownership of the devices by young children and widespread use of apps designed for teenagers. Ofcom’s annual study of technology use across Britain found…
Ofcom rules promise greater protection from unexpected roaming charges
UK mobile customers will be better protected against unexpected roaming charges while using their phone abroad, under new rules just announced by telecoms regulator Ofcom. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU ‘roam like at home’ rules – and UK law requiring mobile operators to alert customers of roaming charges when they start…
Ofcom investigates Virgin Media over migration from analogue to digital landlines
Ofcom has opened an investigation into Virgin Media’s compliance with its rules while migrating customers from analogue to digital landlines. In a statement it said: "We have been clear that during this process telecoms companies must ensure they identify, protect and support vulnerable customers. We are concerned about Virgin Media’s compliance with our rules requiring providers…
Ofcom proposing further action to tackle ‘spoofing’
Ofcom is today proposing to strengthen its guidance on how phone companies should identify and block calls from abroad that falsely use UK numbers, known as spoofing. A common tactic used by criminals to defraud victims is to imitate – or ‘spoof’ – the phone numbers of legitimate organisations, like banks and Government departments. Fraudsters based abroad…
Virgin Media most complained about telco provider, Ofcom reveals
Today Ofcom has published the latest figures for complaints it has received about the UK’s main landline, broadband, mobile and pay-TV providers. The figures cover the period from July to September last year, during which time it saw a slight rise in complaints. Complaints about landline, broadband and pay-TV services all increased, while mobile complaints…
Palworld sells 5m copies in 3 days, Apple Vision Pro pre-sales exceed expectations
The makers of an online multiplayer game dubbed "Pokémon with guns" say it's sold five million copies in three days. Palworld, from Japanese company Pocketpair, has been an overnight success since it launched on Friday. But its surprising popularity meant players struggled to log on at times due to server crashes. The game's also been…
Gamers at risk from hearing loss, Apple overtakes Samsung as top smartphone seller
Gamers could be at risk of irreversible hearing loss and tinnitus, according to new research. A review of worldwide studies involving more than 50,000 people concluded that sound levels are often close to or exceed safe limits. The risk is exacerbated by people typically gaming for long periods of time while impulse noises - such…
