Draft code and rules for streaming services
The media watchdog Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM) has published a draft service code and rules for providers of video-on-demand services in Ireland.
The regulator says that, once finalised, it will apply the code and rules to video-on-demand service providers with their EU headquarters in Ireland.
The draft code obliges such service providers to restrict some content from their catalogues, such as:
- Anything that may reasonably be regarded as public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, and
- Anything that may reasonably be regarded as likely to incite violence or hatred against a group, or a member of a group based on their characteristics – including sex, race, colour, disability, sexual orientation, or membership of a national minority.
Protecting children
Providers will also be required to take steps to protect children from content that may impair their physical, mental or moral development. This can include:
- Providing on-screen warnings at the beginning of programmes for content that may be harmful to children,
- Taking appropriate measures to ensure that content containing pornography or gratuitous violence will not be shown to children, and
- Providing for parental controls and age assurance to protect children from seeing harmful content.
Rónán Ó Domhnaill (development commissioner, CnaM) said that the new code and rules would allow for the statutory regulation of video-on-demand companies based in Ireland for the first time.
EU directive
“The code will help efforts to ensure that people across Ireland can watch entertaining, informative and engaging programming on-demand, while ensuring that children do not access age-inappropriate programming.
“The rules will ensure that every step is taken to ensure that programmes are accessible for people with disabilities and will oblige every audiovisual on-demand media service provider based in Ireland to establish an accessibility action plan,” he added.
CnaM says that the move is also a key step for the transposition of the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive in Ireland.
The code and rules are now open for public consultation, with a closing date of 6 August for submissions.