Ofcom broadens definition of hate speech to include trans intolerance The Office of Communication, otherwise known as Ofcom. (Bruno Vincent/Getty Images) Britain’s media watchdog quietly expanded its definition of hate speech Thursday evening (31 December) to include intolerance of gender affirmation. The Office of Communications, a communications regulator otherwise known as Ofcom, updated its broadcast code with a refreshed definition of hate speech at 11pm amid Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union. It will now include “all forms of expression which spread, incite, promote or justify hatred based on intolerance on the grounds of […] gender reassignment”. “Political or any other opinion” was also added to this list.