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PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Streaming: Regulation (22 February 2022)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress she has been made on bringing streaming services such as Netflix under the regulation of Ofcom.

Asked by:
Nadia Whittome (Labour)

Answer

Video-on-demand services like Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ are not regulated in the UK to the same extent as linear TV channels, some services, like Netflix, are not regulated in the UK at all. On-demand services are not subject to Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code which sets out appropriate standards for content including harmful or offensive material, accuracy, fairness and privacy.

The Government launched a consultation in August 2021 to level the playing field between traditional broadcasters and video-on-demand streaming services, to provide a fair competitive framework and ensure UK viewers are better protected from harmful material. We are now considering the response to the consultation and will publish next steps in due course.


Answered by:
Julia Lopez (Conservative)
2 March 2022

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