Ukraine Crisis: UK Broadcasting Regulator Opens More Probes Into Russia’s RT

The British broadcasting regulator has introduced one other dozen investigations into the “impartiality” of reports programmes aired on Russian state-funded tv channel RT.

Ofcom mentioned on Wednesday that it now has 27 open investigations into RT and is contemplating whether or not the channel ought to hold its UK licence.

“We’re very involved by the amount of programmes on RT which might be elevating potential points beneath the Broadcasting Code,” Ofcom mentioned in a press release.

The regulator first introduced its probe on Monday, saying it had seen “a major enhance” within the variety of potential breaches on RT information programmes after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

When overlaying matters as essential because the Ukraine disaster, all media with licences “should adjust to the particular impartiality necessities in our Code”, the physique mentioned.

“These guidelines require broadcasters to take extra steps to protect due impartiality – specifically by together with and giving due weight to a variety of serious views.”

Russian-controlled tv channels have come beneath fireplace because the West and its allies search to crack down on misinformation about Moscow’s onslaught on Ukraine.

RT is now not allowed to earn cash off Google and YouTube advertisements, the Alphabet-owned tech giants have introduced, following strikes by Facebook, Twitter, and Apple to curb entry to Russian-state-linked information.

Because the disaster escalates, the European Commission is banning Russia’s state-run mouthpieces, whereas within the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has mentioned it ought to be left to Ofcom to resolve the destiny of RT’s licence moderately than politicians, as a result of freedom of expression.