Broadcasting: Disinformation

(asked on 3rd September 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to tackle inaccurate and misleading claims on health matters appearing on broadcast media.


Answered by
John Whittingdale Portrait
John Whittingdale
This question was answered on 11th September 2020

Broadcasting regulation is a matter for Ofcom, as the UK’s independent regulator of television and radio. Ofcom sets and enforces stringent standards for licensed broadcasters to meet in its Broadcasting Code. Broadcasters must provide adequate protection to UK audiences from harmful content, including any potential harm that might arise from misleading or inaccurate health advice.

In July 2020, Ofcom advised broadcasters to be alert to the potential for significant harm to audiences related to the coronavirus, including the accuracy or material misleadingness in programmes in relation to the coronavirus or public policy regarding it.

With regard to broadcast advertising, the Advertising Standards Authority enforces the UK Code of Broadcast Advertising (BCAP Code), through a system of co-regulation with Ofcom. The BCAP Code incorporates all relevant legislation, and sets standards for accuracy and honesty to which advertisers must adhere, including specific conditions intended to ensure that health claims in advertising receive the necessary high level of scrutiny and can be substantiated.


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