British broadcast regulator Ofcom imposed a large fine on RT over an alleged breach of impartiality rules. Reporting on this story by the UK’s majors met a cold reaction online, with users accusing the British media of bias.

The move to impose the £200,000 fine on RT was announced by the British media watchdog on Friday, a decision based on an Ofcom report issued last December accusing RT of seven instances of breaching British impartiality rules while reporting on highly controversial stories in 2018, such as the Skripal poisoning affair.

RT has filed a legal challenge against the accusations and last month London's High Court allowed the case to proceed, despite Ofcom claiming that RT’s case had no merit.

As the British media reported on the impressive fine, it was met by an angry online crowd, wondering when the watchdog would actually look into the country’s own media – and bleed it dry financially over its alleged bias.

If Ofcom would apply the same standard fairly to all broadcasters, Sky News and the BBC would be bankrupt by now. — Jane O'brien (@Jane0brien) 26 июля 2019 г.

I cannot wait to see what they do to the BBC and Channel 4 then!! pic.twitter.com/jp2X0qzApZ — British Thoughtcrime (@BThoughtcrime) 26 июля 2019 г.

Others suggested Ofcom might have an unconventional understanding of what 'impartiality' actually means.

The media is free in the West as long as it spreads NATO propaganda. — Tundra Kurgan (@kontr_troll) 26 июля 2019 г.

And some even pointed fingers at the not-very-subtle ties between the UK’s media and the country’s state authorities.

Still, a few users managed to dismiss the overwhelmingly negative reaction to the news about RT's fine, blaming it on the Twitter bogey of choice – the elusive Russian bots.

I'm noticing all the Ru Bots out in force responding with their tiresome whataboutery to this decision. — tonymacaroni (@tonymacaroni) 26 июля 2019 г.

Also on rt.com Ofcom’s £200,000 fine against RT ‘inappropriate and disproportionate’

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