New Ofcom Boss Ian Cheshire's In-Tray: A Full Plate with Online Safety Dominating
Ian Cheshire, who previously served as the chief executive of Kingfisher, the parent company of B&Q, and chaired Channel 4 until last year, has stepped into a pivotal role as the new chair of Ofcom. His appointment comes at a critical juncture for the UK's communications regulator, with a vast portfolio of responsibilities spanning telecoms, broadband, postal services, media, and the online world. However, it is the latter that is poised to define his tenure, as Ofcom oversees the implementation of the landmark Online Safety Act.
A Legacy of Change and Modern Challenges
When Ofcom was established over two decades ago, the communications landscape was vastly different. Two-thirds of the UK population had no internet access, iPhones and smart speakers were non-existent, and platforms like iPlayer, YouTube, and TikTok had yet to emerge. Today, with 4G long established and letter-sending declining sharply, the regulator's focus has shifted dramatically towards the digital realm. The Online Safety Act, passed into law in 2023, represents a cornerstone of this new era, aiming to regulate social media, search engines, and video platforms to enhance user safety.
Pressure from All Sides: Campaigners and Government Demands
Cheshire's role is fraught with challenges, as he must navigate competing demands from various stakeholders. Influential figures in online safety, such as Ian Russell, father of Molly Russell—a teenager who tragically took her own life after viewing harmful content online—and peer Beeban Kidron, are advocating for a toughening of the act. Last year, Russell expressed a loss of faith in Ofcom's ability to protect children, citing delays in blocking an online suicide forum accessible to UK users.
Simultaneously, the government is pushing for swifter action. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has voiced deep concerns over delays in rolling out parts of the Online Safety Act, urging Ofcom to accelerate its efforts. While updating the legislation itself falls outside Ofcom's remit, Cheshire's connections within government could prove instrumental in encouraging ministerial action, particularly after he undergoes a parliamentary committee hearing as the government's preferred candidate for the position.
Implementation Progress and Ongoing Responsibilities
Under the leadership of Chief Executive Melanie Dawes, Ofcom has only recently begun implementing the Online Safety Act in earnest. Key milestones, such as the introduction of rigorous age-gating measures last year, have started to bring the act into the daily lives of UK citizens. However, significant work remains, including the rollout of extra measures for major platforms like Google and Instagram, which have been delayed by legal proceedings.
Beyond online safety, Cheshire must also oversee Ofcom's original mandates, which include:
- Monitoring public service broadcasting, including children's programming and impartial news, with a focus on channels like GB News.
- Ensuring the universal postal service requirement is met across all UK addresses six days a week.
- Supervising access to reliable broadband and mobile phone coverage nationwide.
Despite these broad responsibilities, the government has made it clear that online safety should be a top priority, demanding quicker progress from the regulator.
Testing the Act's Mettle: Current Investigations and Future Projects
An ongoing investigation into the partial nudification of women and girls by Elon Musk's AI tool, Grok, will serve as a critical test of both the Online Safety Act and Ofcom's enforcement capabilities. This case highlights the evolving nature of online threats and the need for robust regulatory responses.
Looking ahead, Ofcom's 2026-27 plan outlines a series of ambitious projects in the online sector, such as:
- Preventing illegal content from going viral.
- Updating reports on the prevalence of harmful content targeting children.
- Assessing the effectiveness of age-gating measures.
As the act continues to be integrated into the digital ecosystem, incidents like the spread of misinformation following the Southport killings and the hosting of AI-generated misogyny on platform X are likely to persist, fueling calls for immediate action. While the legislative framework is in place for Cheshire, patience from stakeholders is wearing thin, underscoring the urgency of his task.
