the impact of regulatory issues

1. Regulatory Bodies
John Molloy

2. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)
The types of ads we deal with
include:
• Press ads
• Radio and TV ads (including
teleshopping presentations)
• Ads on the internet, smartphones
and tablets
• Ad claims on companies’ own
websites
• Commercial e-mail and text
messages
• Posters/billboards
• Leaflets and brochures
• Ads at the cinema
• Direct mail, whether addressed
to you personally or not
Aspects covered:
Advertising on all platforms
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is the UK’s independent regulator of advertising
across all media. We apply the Advertising Codes, which are written by the Committees
of Advertising Practice (CAP).
They regulate Online Behavioural Advertising (OBA).
• OBA is the practice of collecting information from web browsers so that it can be used
to deliver ads that are more relevant to the user of a particular computer.
Their mission is to make every ad in the UK a responsible ad.
They respond to concerns and complaints from consumers and businesses and take
action to ban ads which are misleading, harmful, offensive or irresponsible.

3. British Board of Film Classification
(BBFC)
Regular consultations and research, we are careful to reflect the views of people right
across the country. We understand what matters to families and apply this knowledge in
setting our standards.
The BBFC is a trusted guide to media content. Working as an independent, self-financing
and not-for-profit media content regulator, the BBFC operates transparent, consistent and
trusted co-regulatory and self-regulatory classification and labelling systems in the UK.
Aspects covered:
Cinema films, video and DVDs
As a highly expert and experienced regulator, their mission is to:
• protect the public, and especially children, from content which might raise harm risks
• empower the public, especially parents, to make informed viewing choices
• recognise and respect adult freedom of choice within the law
• respond to and reflect changing social attitudes towards media content through
proactive public consultation and research
• provide a cost-effective, efficient classification service within our statutory remit
• work in partnership with the industry to develop innovative service models to provide
content advice which support emerging media delivery systems
• provide an effective service to enforcement agencies

4. Pan European Game Information
( PEGI)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Uvf8sq7PU Aspects covered:
Computer games
PEGI uses a single set of criteria to determine the age rating of a video game, but it has
two different rating procedures that are adapted to the needs of different business
models
The PEGI rating considers the age suitability of a game, not the level of difficulty. A PEGI 3
game will not contain any inappropriate content, but can sometimes be too difficult to
master for younger children. Reversely, there are PEGI 18 games that are very easy to play,
yet they contain elements that make them inappropriate for a younger audience.
PEGI is used and recognised throughout Europe and has the enthusiastic support of the
European Commission. It is considered as a model of European harmonisation in the field
of the protection of children.

5. Ofcom
Aspects covered:
TV, radio and
telecommunications
Ofcom make sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile
services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.
They also oversee the universal postal service, which means Royal Mail must deliver and
collect letters six days a week, and parcels five days a week, at an affordable and uniform
price throughout the UK. They also help to make sure people don’t get scammed and are
protected from bad practices.
Our duties come from Parliament. Our priority is to look after you, and we sometimes do
this by promoting competition among companies we regulate.
They provide advice and information to thousands of people each year and register
complaints from people and businesses, which helps them to take action against firms
when they let their customers down.
However parliament has not given them powers to resolve people’s complaints about
their broadband, home phone or mobile phone.
• people are able to use
communications services, including
broadband;
• a range of companies provide
quality television and radio
programmes that appeal to diverse
audiences;
• viewers and listeners are protected
from harmful or offensive material
• people are protected from unfair
treatment in programmes, and
don’t have their privacy invaded
• the universal postal service covers
all UK addresses six days a week,
with standard pricing
• the radio spectrum is used in the
most effective way

6. Performing Right Society for Music
(PRS)
Aspects covered:
Music
They pay royalties* to their members when their work is performed, broadcast, streamed,
downloaded, reproduced, played in public or used in film and TV
*a sum paid to a patentee for the use of a patent or
to an author or composer for each
copy of a book sold or for each public performance
of a work.
Protecting music
Licensing music
Supporting music
Influencing policy
They collaborate closely with other organisations to create a supportive environment for
music makers and an efficient network for licensing music.

7. Independent Press Standards
Organisation (IPSO)
IPSO, the independent regulator of most of the UK’s newspapers and magazines. Aspects covered:
Newspapers and magazines

8. World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
Aspects covered:
The worldwide web