New rules give ATVOD additional powers against adult sites

UK video-on-demand regulator ATVOD has been given new powers to target illegal adult services thanks to the Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2014 rules, which among other things prohibt material that would be would be refused a classification by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) from being distributed on UK video-on-demand services.

Under the rules, content that cannot lawfully be distributed on a DVD can no longer lawfully be distributed on a video on demand service operated from the UK.

“Under the new rules, material which is banned from sale on a DVD in the UK will also be banned from UK video on demand services. This is particularly likely to affect pornographic videos that feature violence, coercion or abusive scenarios such as incest. If you can’t walk into a licensed sex shop and buy it, nor will you be able to view it at home on a video on demand service regulated by ATVOD from today,” said ATVOD chairman Ruth Evans.

Separately, ATVOD has held two adult websites in breach of UK rules to protect children.

The two online video on demand services – Candy Girl Productions and Scott XXX – were held to be in breach of a statutory rule which requires that material which might seriously impair under 18s can only be made available if access is blocked to children.