Editing Ofcom (section)

=== CGTN ===
In 2019, Ofcom began an investigation into the Chinese international channel [[CGTN (TV channel)|CGTN]], owned by state broadcaster [[China Central Television]] (CCTV), following allegations that a forced confession from British former journalist [[Peter William Humphrey|Peter Humphrey]] was broadcast on the channel.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-08|title=Ofcom investigating CGTN for allegedly airing forced confession|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/may/08/ofcom-investigating-chinese-channel-cgtn-forced-confession-claims|access-date=2021-06-05|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In addition, it also received four formal complaints over similar alleged confessions.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Moore|first=Matthew|date=2019-01-28|title=Daughter of Gui Minhai demands ofcom inquiry after China TV shows 'forced confessions'|language=en-UK|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/daughter-of-gui-minhai-demands-inquiry-over-china-global-television-network-confessions-vcgq6wh9v|access-date=2021-06-05|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> In November, Hong Kong activist and former UK consulate worker [[Simon Cheng]] filed a complaint to Ofcom a week after CGTN released a video of him admitting to "soliciting prostitution", which Cheng said he was forced to make.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-11-28|title=Simon Cheng: UK media watchdog receives 'China forced confession' complaint|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-50592641|access-date=2021-06-05}}</ref>

In early 2021, Ofcom revoked the UK broadcasting licence of CGTN. In a statement, it noted that the licence holder for the channel, [[Star China Media|Star China Media Ltd.]], did not have editorial responsibility over the channel, which was against legal requirements. It was also unable to hand over the licence to a corporation called "China Global Television Network Corporation" (CGTNC), on the grounds that the company was "ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which is not permitted under UK broadcasting law".<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-02-04|title=Ofcom revokes Chinese broadcaster CGTN's UK licence|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55931548|access-date=2021-06-05}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2021-02-04|title=Chinese state broadcaster loses UK licence after Ofcom ruling|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/04/chinese-news-network-cgtn-loses-uk-licence-after-ofcom-ruling|access-date=2021-06-05|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Ofcom later fined CGTN £225,000 for "breaching rules on fairness, privacy and due impartiality".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-11|title=CGTN fined £225,000 by Ofcom|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2021/03/11/cgtn-fined-225000-by-ofcom/|access-date=2021-06-05|website=Digital TV Europe|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Following the revocation, both the Chinese government and state media began targeting the BBC, accusing it of producing "fake news" in its coverage of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China]] and the [[Xinjiang internment camps]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-11|title=China bans BBC for 'fake news' on Xinjiang, coronavirus|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/china-bans-bbc-for-fake-news-on-xinjiang-coronavirus/|access-date=2021-06-05|website=POLITICO|language=en-US}}</ref> CGTN itself claimed that Ofcom was "manipulated by extreme right-wing organizations and anti-China forces".<ref name=":0" />