Loveworld TV in UK fined £25,000 over Covid conspiracy theories
Written by Sunny Unachi on 8th October 2021
A UK based Christian TV network has been fined over statements about the coronavirus vaccine.
Loveworld, which broadcasts on satellite television, breached the broadcasting code set out by regulator Ofcom in two episodes of the current affairs programme Full Disclosure in February.
Ofcom says presenters “made a number of unevidenced, materially misleading and potentially harmful statements about the coronavirus pandemic and vaccines”.
In a statement it said: “Ofcom is clear that it is legitimate for broadcasters to discuss and scrutinise the Government’s public health response to the coronavirus pandemic – including the potential side-effects of vaccinations – and that it may be in the public interest to do so.
“However, Loveworld’s presentation of misleading claims without sufficient challenge or context risked causing serious potential harm to viewers, at a time when people were particularly likely to be seeking reliable information relating to the UK’s vaccination programme.”
It is the third time the channel has been found to have breached Ofcom rules. It was fined £125,000 in March over a breach.
Premier contacted Loveword but the station declined to comment.
