Ofcom’s New Chair Vows to Take on ‘Tech Bros’ Over Online Safety Concerns

Ofcom’s incoming chair, Ian Cheshire, has pledged to tackle the perception of complacency towards tech giants on online safety, particularly for under-16s. During his hearing before the science, innovation and technology select committee, Cheshire acknowledged the need for Ofcom to clearly define its capabilities in policing tech platforms and encouraged these platforms to self-regulate more effectively. He also expressed personal concerns about social media's impact on minors but emphasized this was not an official Ofcom stance. Cheshire was questioned about GB News's impartiality, especially regarding sitting politicians like Nigel Farage presenting current affairs shows, promising 'serious conversations' on the matter. Safety campaigners, like Andy Burrows of the Molly Rose Foundation, welcomed Cheshire's commitment as a necessary reset for Ofcom's approach to online safety.