Ofcom

What Ofcom does

Contact Ofcom

Types of regulation

Official guidance from Ofcom

Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.

• Ofcom Online Safety guidance
  Detailed Guidance
• Ofcom: Illegal content duties under the Online Safety Act
  Detailed Guidance
• Ofcom: broadcast licensing
  Detailed Guidance
• Ofcom: Children's safety duties under the Online Safety Act
  Detailed Guidance
• Ofcom guidance on protecting children
  Detailed Guidance
• Ofcom: Online safety regulatory documents and guidance
  Detailed Guidance
• Ofcom: postal regulation
  Detailed Guidance
• Ofcom: tackling abandoned and silent calls
  Detailed Guidance

View all 25 guidance documents →

Legal framework

Legislation that Ofcom directly enforces.

Primary legislation

• Broadcasting Act 1990 Act 1990
• Broadcasting Act 1996 Act 1996
• Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 Act 2006
• Postal Services Act 2011 Act 2011
• DEA 2017 Act 2017
• Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 Act 2021
• PSTIA 2022 Act 2022
• Online Safety Act 2023 Act 2023
• Media Act 2024 Act 2024
• Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act 2024 Act 2024

Secondary legislation

• Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 UK Statutory Instrument 2003
• Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 UK Statutory Instrument 2011
• Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018 UK Statutory Instrument 2018
• Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2020 UK Statutory Instrument 2020
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 UK Statutory Instrument 2021
• Electronic Communications (Security Measures) Regulations 2022 UK Statutory Instrument 2022
• The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 UK Statutory Instrument 2022

Related legislation

Legislation connected to Ofcom's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.

Sectors regulated