Samuel Rowe

5RB

Sam is a barrister at 5RB Chambers. He accepts instructions across all areas of Chambers’ practice, including defamation, privacy, data protection and information law, and harassment.

Sam has a particular interest in the application of the law to emerging technologies. Prior to joining 5RB, Sam was a researcher and co-author of the Independent Review of the Governance of Biometric Data (The Ryder Review), commissioned by the Ada Lovelace Institute, which focused on the legal framework for the processing and governance of biometric data in England and Wales. He also worked in the legal and policy team at a rapidly-growing digital identity company, advising on legal and policy issues, as well as representing the company to policymakers and lawmakers.

Practice Area

Panel

Contributing Author

Qualified Year

2021

Membership

Middle Temple (Queen Mother Scholarship, Blackstone Exhibition)

Qualifications

BA American Literature with Creative Writing (Starred First)
MSc Social Science of the Internet (Distinction)
Graduate Diploma in Law (Commendation)
Bar Professional Training Course (Very Competent)

Education

University of East Anglia
Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford
City, University of London

1 Contributions by Samuel Rowe

PRACTICE NOTES

UK media and online content regulation: broadcasting, press, advertising, film, VoD, VSPs and social media; Ofcom, IPSO, ASA, BBFC; Media Act 2024 and Online Safety Act 2023

This Practice Note provides an overview of media content regulation in the UK. The primary media regulators are: Broadcasting (television and radio) — Ofcom Press and magazines — Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) Advertising — Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Cinema and video — British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) Video on demand (VoD) — Ofcom Video-sharing platforms (VSPs) — Ofcom Social media platforms and search engines — Ofcom Broadcasting Ofcom oversees television and radio programme content by setting and enforcing codes that broadcasters must comply with. The key code for editorial standards is the Ofcom Broadcasting Code (OBC). Broadcast advertising content is handled by the ASA—see Advertising below. In November 2025, Ofcom sought input on reforming broadcast regulation, inviting views on updates in three broad areas: licensing advertising (with an emphasis on the volume permitted on particular services, rather than advertising content) content standards See: LNB News 20/11/2025 42. While this Practice Note reflects the rules currently in force, it is possible that new requirements covering these topics may follow in due course...

TMT

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