Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the level of fake news on terrestrial television.

Under the Communications Act 2003, as reflected in Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, all television and radio broadcasters licensed by Ofcom must ensure that their news output is duly accurate and duly impartial. Ofcom robustly enforces these obligations.

In 2016 it recorded three breaches of Rule 5.1, which requires due accuracy and due impartiality of news output. One breach was in relation to a radio service and two involved television services. Ofcom regularly publishes details of its content standards decisions, including breaches, on its website.