UK says streamers: welcome to broadcaster-style rules
The UK government said streaming services with more than 500,000 UK users will be required to follow new standards similar to those applied to broadcasters, including rules on accurate and impartial news reporting and protections against harmful or offensive material. Ofcom will be granted powers to investigate and take action when it determines that a service has breached the code.
Key Takeaways
- New UK rules will apply to streaming services exceeding 500,000 UK users
- Requirements mirror broadcaster standards: accurate/impartial news and audience protections
- Ofcom will gain authority to investigate and take enforcement action for code breaches
- Compliance risk expands beyond content moderation into editorial and governance obligations
- This raises the bar for operational controls, policy, and potential liability in the UK market
Why It Matters
This is the “streamers become broadcasters” arc moving from rhetoric to regulation. Once Ofcom can investigate and sanction breaches, large platforms will need tighter editorial processes (especially where news, current affairs, or news-like programming exists) and more formal compliance controls around harmful/offensive content. The 500,000-user threshold also signals a template other markets can copy: scale triggers broadcaster-grade obligations. For investors and operators, expect higher compliance costs, more scrutiny of content standards, and a growing advantage for incumbents that already run broadcast-style governance.
Read full article at economictimes.indiatimes.com
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