Ofcom consults on Section Three (Crime) of the Broadcasting Code

On 13 January 2016, Ofcom, the UK Communications Regulator, published a Consultation on Section Three of the Broadcasting Code (“Crime”).

This section of the Code deals with:

• “material likely to encourage or incite the commission of crime or lead to disorder”
   

• and supports enforcement of Article 6 of the AVMS Directive which states that "Member States shall ensure by appropriate means that audiovisual media services provided by media service providers under their jurisdiction do not contain any incitement to hatred based on race, sex, religion or nationality.”

Ofcom is proposing adding notes to this section to clarify certain concepts such as “terrorism”, “hate speech” “disorder” etc., and adding new rules to protect members of the public from offensive and harmful material (hatred and abuse).

The consultation will be open until 18 March.

• Broadcasting Code Review - Section Three: Crime (full print version)

Ofcom Website