Incoming Ofcom chair vows to take on ‘tech bros’

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 it may also be the case that 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, 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 both about individual incidents, including its interview with Donald Trump, as well as allegations it is too close to Reform UK.