UK introduces tougher safeguards for streaming services to protect children

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA)—The UK government has said it will bring the country’s largest video-on-demand (VoD) services under enhanced regulation by media watchdog Ofcom, in a move aimed at strengthening protections for children and vulnerable audiences.

Under secondary legislation implementing the Media Act 2024, platforms with more than 500,000 UK users, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, ITVX, and Channel 4’s on-demand service, will be designated as "Tier 1" services and required to comply with new content and accessibility codes.

"We know that the way audiences watch TV has fundamentally changed. Millions now choose to watch content on video-on-demand platforms alongside or, in the case of many young people, instead of traditional TV," Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said in the statement.

According to Ofcom’s 2025 Media Nations report, 85% of people in the UK use an on-demand service each month, compared with 67% who watch live television, while two-thirds of households subscribe to at least one major streaming platform.

Unlike traditional broadcasters, which must follow Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, many popular VoD services are not currently subject to equivalent UK regulation.

Nandy stressed that the reforms would “strengthen protections for audiences, create a level playing field for industry and support our vibrant media sector.”

The new VoD standards code will mirror key elements of the Broadcasting Code, including rules on due impartiality and accuracy in news and protections against harmful or offensive content. Viewers will be able to submit complaints directly to Ofcom, which will have powers to investigate breaches and impose sanctions.

Financial penalties for non-compliance could reach up to £250,000 (approximately $316,000) per breach or 5% of qualifying revenue.

A separate accessibility code will require Tier 1 services to ensure that at least 80% of their catalog carries subtitles, 10% includes audio description, and 5% is signed. Platforms will have four years to meet these requirements, with interim targets after two years.

Ofcom is expected to launch a public consultation on the new codes shortly, with the standards code set to take effect one year after publication.