Ofcom desperately needs to be clearer with the media and viewing public. (Image: Getty)
With the fight for free speech becoming more and more fraught, it’s vital that media regulator Ofcom is unbiased and stringent in its approach. And when the potential consequences of allowing itself to be influenced by pressure from outside groups are so dire, the watchdog cannot allow there to be any doubt over its impartiality.
That is why I am concerned at suggestions Ofcom is taking markedly different approaches when it comes to media regulation.
In recent years we have seen time and again that fearless reporting is crucial to uncovering threats to young people – ranging from the ongoing child rape scandal to the proscribing of puberty blockers to trans children without proper consideration.
Any suggestions that may embolden those who want to undermine this kind of journalism must be immediately addressed by Ofcom.
That is why it’s so dangerous that Ofcom is allowing itself to be potentially seen as less than impartial. I have read about Ofcom allowing various organisations being able to retain their Ofcom licenses despite questionable practices, or giving organisations slaps on the wrist for what appear quite serious offences.
For instance, the paltry £10,000 fine given by Ofcom to Ahlebait TV for claiming that antisemitism comes from Jews impoverishing people and that “antisemitism is actually a Jewish creation”. Or the £50,000 fine given by Ofcom to Khalsa Television for broadcasting content, which Ofcom itself found “was an indirect call to action for Sikhs living in the UK to commit violence, up to and including murder”.
This includes broadcasting a discussion programme in March 2019, on which two panellists called for actions of violent retribution in God’s name against radio host Harnek Singh.
The following year, Mr Singh was ambushed and stabbed 40 times by religious fundamentalists outside his home in New Zealand. An attack that resulted in him nearly bleeding to death.
Shockingly, despite these events, initially Khalsa Television was allowed to continue broadcasting by Ofcom. It was only after further incitements to violence that Ofcom finally suspended its broadcasting licence For its part, Ahlebait TV continues to hold an Ofcom broadcast licence.
Considering that GB News is facing a £100,000 fine from Ofcom for doing a question time with a former Conservative party leader this looks oddly disproportionate: Is a question time event really 10 times worse than spreading vile anti-Jewish tropes, as Ofcom found Ahlebait TV to have done? Or twice as bad as using a broadcast platform to call for people to go out and commit acts of serious violence, as Ofcom found Khalsa television to be guilty of?
When organisations believe Ofcom looks like it may not apply the same standards in all cases, it will give them the encouragement to push their agendas.
Groups who feel they can fly under the radar, or make themselves out to be the nice guys, may push the boundaries against their opponents to try and suppress opinions they disagree with. The best way Ofcom can avoid that is to explain its decision making in the types of cases I have cited, and by reassuring the public that it does not matter which side you are on politically, or which causes you back, it will judge everyone equally.
Ofcom has just finished consulting on its 2025/26 plan of work. I have written asking it to ensure it provides clearer responses around how it makes decisions. This way, the public can be reassured that there is no bias or partiality in how or when Ofcom decides to exercise its powers.
Ofcom must be clear that it will not be influenced to act against important reporting because of any biases. It must also speak to the cases that have caused people to worry whether it is being even-handed with everyone.
Further, its behaviour going forward must evidence this even-handedness or I will continue to ask questions of it in public and in Parliament.
When the issues at stake are so sensitive, and the truth around them has such a direct impact, it is vital that the regulator gives the media the confidence to freely investigate and cover what it finds. We do not want to see media organisations engaging in self-censorship because some are seen to get more leeway than others.
* Jack Rankin is the Conservative MP for Windsor