United Kingdom: Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

HM Treasury has designated four major global cloud and technology providers as critical third parties under the UK's new operational resilience regime, granting financial regulators direct oversight powers over systemic services that could threaten financial stability. The designations mark the first implementation of rules established under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, mirroring the EU's DORA framework while maintaining a targeted, risk-based approach to protecting the UK financial system f

The European Commission has imposed a historic €550 million fine on AliExpress for violations of the Digital Services Act, marking a significant enforcement action in the regulation of digital platforms. This unprecedented penalty raises critical questions about compliance obligations for major e-commerce platforms operating in the European Union and the Commission's approach to enforcing digital marketplace standards.

The European Data Protection Board has released its first major update to anonymisation guidance in over a decade, introducing a new framework that determines whether data qualifies as anonymous based on who is accessing it. This contextual approach means the same dataset could be considered anonymous for one organisation while remaining personal data for another, fundamentally changing how companies assess data privacy obligations.

The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled against EE Ltd for failing to substantiate comparative claims about their broadband service. The telecommunications company must now ensure all comparative advertising claims can be properly verified with supporting evidence.

A single generative AI tool can now churn out thousands of convincing scam adverts in minutes, at virtually no cost. Ofcom has decided that the platforms profiting from those adverts must bear the burden of stopping...

Ofcom has issued its largest ever consumer protection fine of £28 million against Virgin Media for systematically preventing customers from cancelling their contracts through deliberate call-dropping, excessive transfers, and pressured retention tactics. The investigation uncovered a nearly three-year campaign of misconduct, financially incentivised through commission schemes, that forced over a million customers to navigate unreasonable barriers when attempting to leave. This landmark enforcement acti

The UK's online safety regime is beginning to reshape how digital services verify users' ages, with Ofcom reporting a significant increase in the deployment of age assurance measures across pornography, social media, dating and gaming platforms.

Artificial intelligence is transforming the fight against piracy in ways that copyright law was never designed to address. When AI systems can extract decades of tactical intelligence from sports broadcasts without reproducing a single frame, how do rights holders prove infringement when no copy has been made?

The UK offers two distinct immigration pathways for creative professionals in film and television: the Global Talent visa, which provides a route to permanent settlement for recognized industry leaders, and the Creative Worker visa for temporary project-based work. Understanding the eligibility criteria, endorsement requirements, and strategic advantages of each route is essential for both individuals and employers navigating these complex immigration options.

Every maths teacher has said it at some point: the right answer with no working out gets you nothing. Full marks are reserved for those who can show, step by step, how they got there.

The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled against EE Ltd for failing to substantiate comparative claims about their broadband service. The telecommunications company must now ensure all comparative advertising claims can be properly verified with supporting evidence.

Recent ASA rulings on McDonald's McDelivery and Domino's Pizza advertisements provide crucial clarity on when food and drink adverts identify specific "less healthy" products versus promoting brands generally. The decisions reveal how precise product naming and incidental references can determine whether adverts comply with the pre-watershed ban on HFSS advertising, though proposed parliamentary changes may soon redraw these carefully established boundaries.