Incoming Ofcom chair vows to take on ‘tech bros’

Ian Cheshire says media regulator must address perception it has been complacent and slow on online safety

Ofcom’s incoming chair has vowed to take on the “tech bros”, as he conceded there was now a perception the regulator had been complacent and slow over concerns about online safety.

Ian Cheshire, the former Channel 4 chair who has secured the job overseeing the technology and media regulator, also told MPs he had personal concerns about the impact of social media on under-16s.

During a hearing before the science, innovation and technology select committee, Cheshire was asked directly about whether he would take on the powerful tech companies that dominate the online world .

“Yes,” he said, adding: “It is the area I want to probe and understand, because I think there is clearly a perception that it has been either complacent or slow or both.”

However, he suggested Ofcom needed to be clear about what it could and could not achieve in terms of policing tech platforms. He said he wanted the platforms themselves to come together and demonstrate they wanted to do more .

He said: “I think there are some questions about the practicality of what speed to do … because I think there are slightly more constraints.

“If expectations are up here and the delivery is here, I think Ofcom has to take it on the chin to work out how to communicate that and say: ‘What’s the maximum we could do?’”

While he said limiting social media for children was a matter for the government, he said: “I am personally – as a parent and grandparent – very nervous about social media under 16 personally, but I wouldn’t want to impose that as a political or an Ofcom view.”

His comments were welcomed by safety campaigners. Andy Burrows, the chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, said: “It’s refreshing to hear from Ian Cheshire that under his leadership, Ofcom will take on big tech and address the deserved perception the regulator is complacent and slow when it comes to enforcing the Online Safety Act.

“It’s clear a reset is needed and redefining what Ofcom can effectively do on online safety will be a crucial start. With proactive, ambitious and robust enforcement Ofcom can show parents up and down the country who are crying out for change that regulation works.”

Cheshire was also challenged over the impartiality concerns about GB News, after complaints about the rightwing network’s output. There have been complaints about individual incidents, including its interview with Donald Trump , as well as allegations it is too close to Reform UK.

Cheshire said he would have “serious conversations” about whether sitting politicians such as Nigel Farage should be allowed to present current affairs programmes on the channel.

Under current rules, politicians are allowed to present current affairs programmes on the channel, as long as a range of views are reflected across the programme.

GB News has always said it acts within broadcasting rules.

Ofcom also signalled a step-up in its regulation of tech firms on Thursday by vowing to “force through” more online safety changes, accusing TikTok and YouTube of not doing enough to protect children.

Warning that personalised feeds were serving harmful content to under-18s, Ofcom said the video apps had not “committed to any significant changes in response to our specific demands”, maintaining that their feeds were “already safe for children”.

The watchdog indicated that it would order an independent audit of the systems used by YouTube, TikTok and Meta – which owns Instagram and Facebook – to protect children from harmful content.

TikTok said it was “very disappointing” that Ofcom had not noted its safety features, such as no direct messaging for under-16s, while Meta said it had been investing in safety measures for teenagers for “over a decade”. YouTube has been approached for comment.

Ofcom added that Snapchat, Meta and the gaming platform Roblox had all agreed to adopt further safety measures to protect children from online grooming.

Ofcom made the announcement as the government consults on how to improve online child safety, in a consultation that closes next week. The options include an Australia-style ban on under-16s accessing social media.

MPs from the Commons education committee supported a ban on Thursday and urged the government to restrict under-18 access to “addictive” app features such as infinite scrolling and disappearing messages.

The committee chair, Labour MP Helen Hayes, urged ministers to take action on social media platforms “before it is too late”.