UK broadcasting watchdog, Ofcom, has sanctioned Loveworld Television Network, a station owned by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Christ Embassy.
Ofcom tweeted yesterday via @Ofcom that the sanction was consequent upon a sermon by Oyakhilome, founder and president of Loveworld Incorporated, in which he claimed that COVID-19 was caused by the 5G technology.
According to Ofcom, Loveworld Television breached UK’s broadcasting rules by airing Oyakhilome’s claims, which contained “harmful statements” and were not presented “with due accuracy.”
Ofcom tweeted, “We have sanctioned Loveworld Limited, licensee of religious channel Loveworld, for breaking broadcasting rules.
“A news programme and a sermon broadcast on the channel contained potentially harmful and unsubstantiated claims about causes of and treatments for Covid-19.
“The broadcasts linked the pandemic to 5G; said that it was the subject of a ‘global cover-up’; and presented hydroxychloroquine as a proven ‘cure’. These claims were potentially harmful and made without adequate protection.
“There is no restriction on broadcasting controversial views which diverge from, or challenge, official authorities on public health information. However, they require adequate protection. These broadcasts risked undermining viewers’ trust in official advice with potentially serious consequences for public health. We have directed Loveworld Limited to broadcast statements of our findings, and are considering whether to impose further sanctions.
