The UK Government will give the country’s media watchdog, Ofcom, the power to draft and enforce a new video-on-demand code. The code will aim to set standards for “larger TV-like services” such as Netflix, ITV Hub and Now TV to level the rules with traditional broadcasters.
Under the rules, Ofcom will be given a “strengthened duty” to protect audiences from “harmful material,” the proposal explains, citing challenged health claims and documentaries that have been labelled 'pseudoscience'. With these measures, the Government continues to strive to make tech firms accountable for the content hosted on their platforms, building on the provisions of the Online Safety Bill.
The regulator will be able to make decisions regarding age ratings and viewer guidance and impose fines of up to £250,000 or an amount of up to five per cent of their revenue – whichever is higher.
The new regulations have been detailed in the broadcasting white paper published...