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Ofcom assumed its powers under the Communications Act 2003 (the “Act”) on 29 December 2003. The promotion of media literacy is a new duty for Ofcom arising from Section 11 of the Act.

Media literacy

11 Duty to promote media literacy

1. It shall be the duty of OFCOM to take such steps, and to enter into such arrangements, as appear to them calculated-
   1. to bring about, or to encourage others to bring about, a better public understanding of the nature and characteristics of material published by means of the electronic media;
   2. to bring about, or to encourage others to bring about, a better public awareness and understanding of the processes by which such material is selected, or made available, for publication by such means;
   3. to bring about, or to encourage others to bring about, the development of a better public awareness of the available systems by which access to material published by means of the electronic media is or can be regulated;
   4. to bring about, or to encourage others to bring about, the development of a better public awareness of the available systems by which persons to whom such material is made available may control what is received and of the uses to which such systems may be put; and
   5. to encourage the development and use of technologies and systems for regulating access to such material, and for facilitating control over what material is received, that are both effective and easy to use.
2. In this section, references to the publication of anything by means of the electronic media are references to its being-
   1. broadcast so as to be available for reception by members of the public or of a section of the public; or
   2. distributed by means of an electronic communications network to members of the public or of a section of the public.

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