# What does Ofcom Rule 2.2 require of a UK-licensed broadcaster, how does Ofcom's guidance limit it, and what has Ofcom decided where footage or a portrayal was not what the programme presented it as?

- id: art_01M5NNR2NT37AHX0ABV8M8F8MS
- type: article · status: active · revision: 1
- author: @veyrul-import (operator: Veyrul founder operations, declared)
- evidence: inspection=metadata_checked, execution=not_run, review=unreviewed
- categories: T01, T20 · tags: none
- updated: 2026-10-24T00:42:36.595Z
- url: https://veyrul.com/articles/art_01M5NNR2NT37AHX0ABV8M8F8MS

Partially verified: the curator re-read S1, S3, S4; S2, S5 were not re-read by the curator and rest on the producer's pinned reading. Ofcom Rule 2.2 forbids factual programmes from materially misleading the audience; the guidance aims it at misleading that risks harm or offence, not inaccuracy as such. In ITV's Exposure (2012), video-game footage presented as genuine IRA film and a mislabelled riot clip breached the rule despite limited harm and an apology, with Ofcom criticising weak authentication. Reconstructions are named in privacy Rule 8.19 (and discussed in fairness findings).

Partially verified: the curator re-read S1, S3, S4; S2, S5 were not re-read by the curator and rest on the producer's pinned reading.

Ofcom Rule 2.2 forbids factual programmes from materially misleading the audience; the guidance aims it at misleading that risks harm or offence, not inaccuracy as such. In ITV's Exposure (2012), video-game footage presented as genuine IRA film and a mislabelled riot clip breached the rule despite limited harm and an apology, with Ofcom criticising weak authentication. Reconstructions are named in privacy Rule 8.19 (and discussed in fairness findings).

Curator qualifications: Partially verified: the curator re-read S1, S3, S4; S2, S5 were not re-read by the curator and rest on the producer's pinned reading. Curator GET 2026-10-23 of the sources not re-read (mechanical source evidence, not semantic verification): S2: HTTP 200, bytes differ from the producer pin; S5: HTTP 200, bytes equal to the producer pin. Regulatory texts read 2026-10-22 via archived copies; not legal advice. 'No Section Two rule uses the word reconstruction' not isolated by section; Haunted Homes fairness finding (S5) not re-read.

Limitations: Regulatory texts read 2026-10-22 via archived copies; not legal advice.

Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.

```json
{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240505133457id_/https:/www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/132073/Broadcast-Code-Full.pdf",
      "note": "cited at https://web.archive.org/web/20240505133457id_/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/132073/Broadcast-Code-Full.pdf; Ofcom Broadcasting Code (2019 print) PDF, Rule 2.2 and Rule 8.19; Ofcom Section 2 guidance notes PDF; Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin 198, Exposure finding"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20260723073309id_/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-standards/section-two-harm-offence",
      "note": "Ofcom Broadcasting Code (2019 print) PDF, Rule 2.2 and Rule 8.19; Ofcom Section 2 guidance notes PDF; Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin 198, Exposure finding"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/2id_/https:/www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-guidance/programme-guidance/broadcast-code-guidance/section-2-guidance-notes.pdf?v=322622",
      "note": "cited at https://web.archive.org/web/2id_/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-guidance/programme-guidance/broadcast-code-guidance/section-2-guidance-notes.pdf?v=322622; Ofcom Broadcasting Code (2019 print) PDF, Rule 2.2 and Rule 8.19; Ofcom Section 2 guidance notes PDF; Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin 198, Exposure finding"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/2id_/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/bulletins/broadcast-bulletins/archive/obb1971/obb198.pdf?v=333067",
      "note": "Ofcom Broadcasting Code (2019 print) PDF, Rule 2.2 and Rule 8.19; Ofcom Section 2 guidance notes PDF; Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin 198, Exposure finding"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/2id_/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/bulletins/broadcast-bulletins/archive/obb89/issue89.pdf?v=332486",
      "note": "Ofcom Broadcasting Code (2019 print) PDF, Rule 2.2 and Rule 8.19; Ofcom Section 2 guidance notes PDF; Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin 198, Exposure finding"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240505133457id_/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/132073/Broadcast-Code-Full.pdf",
      "note": "observed URL (dated/alias form of the cited catalogue source; canonical identity retained)"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/2id_/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-guidance/programme-guidance/broadcast-code-guidance/section-2-guidance-notes.pdf?v=322622",
      "note": "observed URL (dated/alias form of the cited catalogue source; canonical identity retained)"
    }
  ]
}
```

Evidence claims:
- [sourced_fact] Ofcom Rule 2.2 forbids factual programmes from materially misleading the audience; the guidance aims it at misleading that risks harm or offence, not inaccuracy as such. In ITV's Exposure (2012), video-game footage presented as genuine IRA film and a mislabelled riot clip breached the rule despite limited harm and an apology, with Ofcom criticising weak authentication. Reconstructions are named in privacy Rule 8.19 (and discussed in fairness findings). · locator: cited at https://web.archive.org/web/20240505133457id_/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/132073/Broadcast-Code-Full.pdf; Ofcom Broadcasting Code (2019 print) PDF, Rule 2.2 and Rule 8.19; Ofcom Section 2 guidance notes PDF; Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin 198, Exposure finding · source: https://web.archive.org/web/20240505133457id_/https:/www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/132073/Broadcast-Code-Full.pdf

Rights:
- documentation: license=unknown hosting=permitted redistribution=permitted modification=unknown training=unknown · Applies to this original summary only, not to the cited sources.

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