The Government recognises that the use of AI tools and other forms of technical innovation is increasing. Where these tools are used, they can - as in the case of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) - help increase efficiency in certain processes. Whilst the BBFC operates independently of government, including in the tools and processes it employs, the organisation provides regular updates to government on its work, including the use of AI tools.

The government expects the BBFC to keep at the heart of its work its responsibility for protecting audiences - in particular children - from viewing harmful or inappropriate content. This means ensuring that BBFC Compliance Officers continue, as now, to be fully involved in the classification process; ensuring that AI tools are used to complement rather than replace human oversight of that process; and ensuring the robustness of the safeguards in place around its AI tools, such as audits and spot checks.

The Government announced the joint pornography team as part of the VAWG strategy in December. In March, it committed to produce a delivery plan setting out how the government can most effectively close the gap between the regulation of online and offline pornographic content. This will test audit and reporting functions and will consider which regulatory frameworks can best address the issue, noting the interactions with the BBFC’s existing remit and that of Ofcom under the Online Safety Act.

The Government announced the joint pornography team as part of the VAWG strategy in December. In March, it committed to produce a delivery plan setting out how the government can most effectively close the gap between the regulation of online and offline pornographic content. This will test audit and reporting functions and will consider which regulatory frameworks can best address the issue, noting the interactions with the BBFC’s existing remit and that of Ofcom under the Online Safety Act.

Ofcom, the independent regulator, has a new duty introduced through the Media Act 2024 to assess audience protection measures used by video-on-demand (VoD) services, such as age ratings, to ensure they are adequate to protect audiences from harm. The Government will in due course be designating mainstream VoD services, bringing them under enhanced regulation by Ofcom. Ofcom will then consult on a new Standards Code for these services, similar to the Broadcasting Code. This could include the use of age ratings, if Ofcom considers it appropriate.

The Government has not made an assessment of the child protection benefits of streaming services partnering with the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Ofcom, as the independent regulator, now has a new duty introduced through the Media Act 2024 to assess audience protection measures used by video-on-demand (VoD) services, such as age ratings, to ensure they are adequate to protect audiences from harm. The Government will in due course be designating mainstream VoD services, bringing them under enhanced regulation by Ofcom. Ofcom will then consult on a new standards code for these services, similar to the Broadcasting Code. This could include the use of age ratings, if Ofcom considers it appropriate.

The Government has not made an assessment of self-rating partnerships between the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and video-on-demand (VoD) services. Ofcom, as the independent regulator, now has a new duty introduced through the Media Act 2024 to assess audience protection measures used by VoD services, such as age ratings, to ensure they are adequate to protect audiences from harm. The Government will in due course be designating mainstream VoD services, bringing them under enhanced regulation by Ofcom. Ofcom will then consult on a new standards Code for these services, similar to the Broadcasting Code. This could include the use of age ratings, if Ofcom considers it appropriate.

Creating a safer online world is a priority for the government. Services regulated under the Online Safety Act must take action to tackle illegal pornographic content, including extreme pornography, which is a priority offence under the Act. Children will also be protected from pornographic content through the use of highly effective age assurance.

Government departments are also undertaking detailed work to consider how best to tackle the complex set of issues raised by Baroness Bertin’s Independent Pornography Review.

Creating a safer online world is a priority for the government. Services regulated under the Online Safety Act must take action to tackle illegal pornographic content, including extreme pornography, which is a priority offence under the Act. Children will also be protected from pornographic content through the use of highly effective age assurance.

Government departments are also undertaking detailed work to consider how best to tackle the complex set of issues raised by Baroness Bertin’s Independent Pornography Review.

Creating a safer online world is a priority for the government. Services regulated under the Online Safety Act must take action to tackle illegal pornographic content, including extreme pornography, which is a priority offence under the Act. Children will also be protected from pornographic content through the use of highly effective age assurance.

Government departments are also undertaking detailed work to consider how best to tackle the complex set of issues raised by Baroness Bertin’s Independent Pornography Review.

The classification system has addressed these issues under successive governments, but decisions regarding the classification of films are made by the BBFC and the Games Rating Authority, not the BBFC, is responsible for the classification of video games. The BBFC’s decisions are made independently of the government, which is important to ensure impartiality. The BBFC’s age ratings serve to protect the public and empower people to make informed viewing choices, whilst also recognising and respecting adult freedom of choice within the law.

The standards underpinning the BBFC’s ratings are set out in their published Classification Guidelines, and are based on consultations every 4-5 years with experts and thousands of members of the public.

If the BBFC finds that a film raises issues or concerns that cannot be addressed through their classification system, they may require compulsory cuts or other changes as a condition of classification.

The Secretary of State has made no assessment of the adequacy of British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) age ratings on streaming services. Following implementation of the Media Act 2024, the independent regulator Ofcom is currently undertaking a review of the audience protection measures in use on on-demand programme services. This includes age ratings.

I know that my hon. Friend has done a lot of work on supporting parents and children in transparency in this area. Something that we want to do in the media Bill is to regulate video on demand in the same way that we do with broadcast. We continue to view the BBFC age ratings as best practice, and I too welcome the news this week about Amazon taking on those ratings.

It was encouraging to see the news this week that Amazon Prime video is taking steps to adopt the British Board of Film Classification ratings. However, this makes the decision of Disney+ to continue to disregard UK best practice even more disappointing. Do the Government agree that it makes it far harder for parents to properly regulate their children’s viewing when age ratings are unfamiliar?

The Board of Film Classification’s (BBFC) well-recognised age ratings and content advice continue to be of huge value to audiences.

My Department is consulting with the BBFC and video-on-demand services on the role of age ratings, as part of work on the future regulation of video-on-demand services.

I was pleased to see the new partnership between Amazon Prime Video and BBFC. Netflix already carries BBFC age ratings across their entire UK catalogue and we welcome BBFC’s continued engagement with other providers in the sector.

In October 2019, His Majesty’s Government announced its decision to use the Online Safety Bill to protect children from pornography. The provisions in this Bill will provide greater protection to children than Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act. It will cover a wider range of services, including social media companies and search services, which were not in scope of the Digital Economy Act, and which play a significant role in enabling children to access harmful content online.

There is no statutory obligation to update the guidance mentioned in section 27 of the Digital Economy Act. As HM Government intends to repeal Part 3 of that Act through the Online Safety Bill, amending this guidance would not serve any purpose as it will not be used. Instead, Ofcom, as the independent regulator for the online safety regime, will set out the steps companies can take to protect children from harmful content such as pornography in codes of practice. Ofcom will also publish guidance for companies to meet the duty to protect children from published pornography in Part 5 of the Bill. The Secretary of State will also have a general power to issue guidance to Ofcom about the exercise of its functions under the Bill.

Ofcom will have a range of powers to assess whether companies are fulfilling their duties, and will be empowered to enforce the new regulatory regime. The British Board of Film Classification’s designation as the age verification regulator under the Digital Economy Act was revoked following the October 2019 announcement.