World M&E News

UK , Ratings , Streaming Platforms , BBFC , OfCom

Survey: BBFC age ratings most trusted on streaming services

In a survey of 2,000 parents of 3-16 year olds in the UK who subscribe to at least one streaming service, nine in ten (90 per cent) recognise BBFC age ratings, while almost three-quarters (73 per cent) said they trust BBFC ratings the most when compared with alternative systems. The research identifies the BBFC as the most widely recognised and trusted age rating system among UK parents using streaming platforms.

Advanced Television | 23-Oct-25
Nigeria , TikTok , Government , Religion

Nigerian Court Orders TikTokers to Marry After Viral Kiss Video

A Nigerian court has ordered two TikTok stars, Idris Ashiru Mai Wushirya and Basira Yar Guda, to marry within 60 days after their viral videos showing public affection were deemed “immoral” by the Kano State Film Censorship Board.

First Post | 23-Oct-25
Ireland , Entertainment Business , IFCO , Sexuality , Nudity , Violence

67% of adults 'do not have concerns' about seeing harmful media content - report

Audience attitudes to harmful and offensive media content are changing, according to new research from Coimisiún na Meán, IFCO and the Ombudsman for Children's Office published today. Findings indicate that two-in-three adults (67%) did "not have concerns" about seeing or hearing potentially harmful or offensive content themselves.

RTÉ | 21-Oct-25
US , Classification , Government

App Store Age Verification: Popular in Principle, Unworkable in Practice

App store age verification bills like the federal App Store Accountability Act (HR 3149 / S. 1586) are emblematic of public support for age verification in the sense of “rules for thee but not for me” – public willingness to provide facial scans or government issued ID to access apps is consistently low.

CCIA | 21-Oct-25
US , Government , Regulation

Sora 2 copyright calculations highlight new role for agencies as risk whisperers

OpenAI’s launch of Sora 2, its video generation tool and would-be social network for the slop age, was the latest attempt by the generative AI developer to expand the copyright Overton Window.

Digiday | 20-Oct-25
Mexico , Government

Mexico introduces 8% tax on violent games

The government majority in Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies has supported a bill imposing an 8% tax on violent video games. In-game purchases will also be subject to the tax.

dev.ua | 20-Oct-25
US , Netflix , HBO Max , Entertainment Business , Streaming Platforms

Netflix Quietly Marketing Content on HBO Max

While streaming competitors advertising on each other’s ad-supported platforms is not unusual, placing a “supporting sponsor” blub directly into third-party content is not the norm.

Media Play News | 19-Oct-25
US , Netflix , Backlash , Streaming Platforms , LGBTQ

Pentagon Criticizes Netflix for “Woke Garbage” in Wake of Gay Marine Drama ‘Boots’

While not commenting on the hit series itself, the Pentagon issued a statement about the streamer's leadership and programming when asked about the show.

The Hollywood Reporter | 18-Oct-25
US , Entertainment Business

How cable and satellite TV are trying to win back cord-cutters

While the media industry watches the once massive number of subscribers to cable and satellite services diminish like a slow-melting iceberg as audiences move to streaming, the companies are aggressively developing ways to slow the trend and perhaps win some business back.

MediaNews Group | 18-Oct-25
Thailand , Government , Globalization

Thailand accelerates film and digital content policies to boost creative economy

Prime Minister’s Office Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi has instructed the National Film and Video Committee to accelerate policy development, legal reforms, and new measures to further support Thailand’s film and digital content sectors.

Pattaya Mail | 18-Oct-25
US , Censorship , Government

Big Tech sues Texas, says age-verification law is “broad censorship regime”

Texas is being sued by a Big Tech lobby group over the state’s new law that will require app stores to verify users’ ages and impose restrictions on users under 18. The Texas app law has been compared to checking IDs at bookstores and shopping malls.

Ars Technica | 17-Oct-25
US , Regulation , Government

California Enacts Landmark AI Safety and Transparency Law

On September 29, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act (TFAIA) into law, becoming the first state to require developers of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models to publish detailed safety frameworks on their websites and report serious safety incidents to State officers.

JD Supra | 17-Oct-25
US , New Tech

Opinions split over AI bubble after billions invested

Companies announcing multi-billion dollar investments in artificial intelligence have raised concerns about the formation of a bubble reminiscent of the dotcom boom and bust. Investors are on guard for signals that demand is tailing off or that the massive spending is not paying off as anticipated.

Reuters | 16-Oct-25
US , Entertainment Business

Pinterest adds controls to let you limit the amount of ‘AI slop’ in your feed

Following backlash over an increase in “AI slop” taking over users’ feeds, Pinterest on Thursday added new tools that let users limit how much AI-generated content they see on the platform.

Tech Crunch | 16-Oct-25
US , Entertainment Business , Sexuality

Sam Altman says OpenAI isn’t the ‘moral police of the world’ after people slam its decision to offer erotica to adult users

After OpenAI said it would allow erotic content through ChatGPT, Sam Altman struck a defying tone in defending the decision. The OpenAI CEO said in a post on X that the AI company is “not the elected moral police of the world” in response to criticism from the likes of billionaire Mark Cuban to The National Center on Sexual Exploitation.

Fortune | 16-Oct-25
US , Instagram , Ratings

Instagram Teen Accounts Will Be Guided by PG-13 Ratings

Max Eulenstein, Instagram’s head of product management, told the New York Times that Instagram would adopt the PG-13 rating system for films, in line with Motion Picture Association guidelines. The move is meant to make it more difficult for teenagers to seek out or be exposed to explicit content.

Instagram | 16-Oct-25
US , Streaming Platforms

Study: 45% Of U.S. Internet Households Now Watch FAST Streaming Services

Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) of these homes also subscribe to at least one streaming service, with 59% choosing the cheaper ad-supported option, Parks Associates reported.

TVNewsCheck | 15-Oct-25
US , Regulation , Government

California Adopts New Law Targeting AI Misuse In Ads.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that would give someone whose voice or image is used without their permission the ability to take legal action for damages.

Inside Radio | 15-Oct-25
US , Localization

Even AI Companies Need Localization Managers

Operationally, and as a latecomer to OpenAI’s multilingual party, this person will also be required to pilot AI-assisted translation workflows, coordinate large-scale product rollouts across international teams, and ensure global content consistency.

Slator | 13-Oct-25
US , Entertainment Business

Netflix, BBC and Others Sent Legal Letter Over Israel Film Boycott Signed by Joaquin Phoenix, Olivia Colman: ‘Highly Likely to Be a Litigation Risk’

Some of the U.K.’s most prominent studios and screen organizations have been sent a legal warning over an industry boycott of Israeli film institutions.

Variety | 13-Oct-25
US , Trigger Warning

New research exposes the problem with trigger warnings

Almost 90 per cent of young people who saw a trigger warning still chose to view the content out of curiosity, whatever the sources of the warnings and irrespective of whether they suffered from trauma.

Independent | 13-Oct-25
India , Censorship , Regulation , CBFC

Censor Board's ideological cuts on 'Haal', 'Private' spark censorship fears in Malayalam cinema

From asking ‘Haal’ makers to cut beef biriyani scene to accusing ‘Private’ of anti-national themes, CBFC diktats show move towards right-leaning regulation.

The Federal | 13-Oct-25
India , Censorship , CBFC

CBFC to ban all beef eating references from all movies henceforth

In Malayalam cinema, references to beef and beef eating are common. No more so. According to a source in the know, all references to beef as cuisine will be banned by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Bollywood Hungama | 13-Oct-25
US , Entertainment Business , Regulation

Navigating the Minefield: Dangers of Unregulated AI

Unregulated artificial intelligence poses significant risks across economic, cultural, and safety domains. This article delves into the potential harms of AI without oversight, highlighting the urgent need for governance to protect society from job losses, privacy infringements, safety concerns, and monopolistic power.

OpenTools | 12-Oct-25
India , Censorship , Backlash , CBFC

Kerala Film Producers Association to raise concern over CBFC censor cuts Read more at: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kerala-film-producers-raise-concern-cbfc-censor-cuts-ioy73l7f

The Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA) said on Sunday that it plans to take up the issue of censoring scenes deemed normal in Kerala with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Mathrubhumi | 12-Oct-25
US , Entertainment Business

Tilly Norwood & AI Confusion Will Shape Looming Guild Negotiations, Copyright Experts Agree

In the looming contract talks between Hollywood studios and above-the-line unions, confusion around AI and issues raised by the debut of synthetic actress Tilly Norwood are certain to be key themes.

Deadline | 12-Oct-25
UAE , Entertainment Business

From Phones to Film: Sharjah Youth Festival Champions a New Generation of Digital-First Arab Storytellers

At this year’s Sharjah Intl. Film Festival for Children and Youth, the next generation of Arab filmmakers isn’t waiting for permission to create. Armed with mobile phones, editing apps, and an evolving relationship with artificial intelligence, they’re redefining who gets to tell stories across the Middle East.

Variety | 10-Oct-25
Indonesia , Ratings , Government , Obscenity , Violence

Govt to require games include age rating starting from Jan 2026

Starting from January 2026, the Indonesian government will require all video games released in Indonesia to include an age rating label to protect children from inappropriate content, according to a ministry official.

Antara | 10-Oct-25
India , Censorship , Backlash , Religion

Censor Board flags beef biryani scene in Malayalam film Haal, makers move High Court

The Censor Board has ordered cuts in the Malayalam film 'Haal' citing religious sensitivities, following which the makers have approached the Kerala High Court. Starring Shane Nigam and featuring songs by Atif Aslam, the film remains a major release despite the controversy.

India Today | 9-Oct-25
US , YouTube , Streaming Platforms , Government

YouTube Rolls Out Program to Give Creators Who Were Banned a “Second Chance” on Platform

The new program appears to follow a promise to Congress to reinstate creators who were banned for violating its COVID-19 or election integrity policies.

The Hollywood Reporter | 9-Oct-25
Hong Kong , Censorship , Government , OFNAA

Hong Kong bars 13 films from screening on national security grounds since 2021 censorship law

No films had been barred from screening in the five years before the amended film censorship law was enacted, while 50 films had to be edited in order to be screened during the same period.

Hong Kong Free Press | 8-Oct-25
UK , Regulation , Government , ASA , Gambling

Premier League gambling ads expose cracks in self-regulation

The Premier League season kicked off beneath a storm of betting logos — more than 27,000 of them, nearly triple the 2023 figure but only slightly down from last year’s record high. Promises of self-control? Lost somewhere in the crowd. The sheer visibility of Premier League gambling ads shows how the sport remains the industry’s most lucrative showcase.

SiGMA | 8-Oct-25
US , Trigger Warning , Mental Health

Trigger Warnings Make You More Likely to Be Triggered, Study Finds

Content warnings, or the much more politically loaded term “trigger warnings,” are meant to let people who have experienced some rough stuff in life know what they’re getting into before they, say, read a feature article or watch a particularly rough episode of a show. They’re just a simple heads-up, giving people the chance to opt out so they don’t have to relive a horror that they’re not yet ready to relive.

Vice | 8-Oct-25
Canada , Streaming Platforms , Entertainment Business , NFB

NFB Launches Top Docs Channel

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is launching a new FAST channel called TopDocs. The channel will feature a curated selection of documentaries from the NFB’s extensive award-winning catalogue – which runs to thousands of titles.

VideoAge | 8-Oct-25
US , Apple , Regulation

Apple sets new Rules for Texas under State’s Age Verification Law

Starting January 1, 2026, Apple will enforce new App Store rules in Texas to comply with the state’s App Store Accountability Act (SB2420). The law requires companies to verify users’ ages before allowing app downloads, reshaping how both developers and users interact with the App Store in the state.

The Mac Observer | 8-Oct-25
India , Entertainment Business

The algorithm is the new master of media: Aroon Purie

Speaking at the 25th FICCI Frames, India Today editor-in-chief Aroon Purie highlighted a troubling trend with digital advertising. “Their master is the algorithm. The algorithm doesn't reward depth, accuracy or nuance, it rewards outrage, speed and virality.”

Afaqs | 7-Oct-25
US , Entertainment Business

Will AI Actors Replace Humans in Hollywood?

The recent emergence of AI actor Tilly Norwood has caused outrage among Hollywood's stars and SAG-AFTRA, but will AI ever be a true threat to filmmakers?

BizClik | 6-Oct-25
US , Google , Government

The biggest takeaways from the Google ad tech remedies trial

The remedies phase of the Google ad tech antitrust trial concluded on Monday, after 11 days of arguments and testimony. Google and the U.S. Department of Justice will deliver closing arguments on Nov. 17. Then, Judge Leonie Brinkema — who ruled in April that Google maintained a monopoly in two ad tech product markets — will decide how to restore competition in the digital advertising marketplace at a later time.

The Current | 6-Oct-25
Vietnam , Government , Regulation

Vietnam suspends operations of 2 companies over illegal ‘9-dash line’ in Chinese film

Vietnam has suspended all online film distribution activities by China’s Tencent Holdings Limited and Image Future Investment (HK) Limited in connection with the film ‘Love's Ambition,’ which features an image of an illegal ‘nine-dash line,’ sparking public outrage in recent days.

Tuoi Tre News | 6-Oct-25
India , Censorship , Government , CBFC

Neeraj Ghaywan's ‘Homebound’ and CBFC: A look at Indian film censorship

The CBFC or the Censor Board of Film Certification, has asked for not less than eleven cuts in Neeraj Ghaywan’s feature film Homebound which has been selected as the official Indian entry to the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Category for the Oscars for 2026.

Mathrubhumi | 4-Oct-25
US , TikTok , Regulation , Ratings , Sexuality , Minor Safety

TikTok Search Suggestions Push Sexual Content to Young Users, Global Witness Finds

A new Global Witness study found that TikTok search suggestions can push young users toward content with explicit sexual undertones. The investigation, published on October 3, shows that seven UK accounts were created posing as 13-year-olds, using factory-reset phones and with no search history.

Mezha | 4-Oct-25
Australia , Censorship , LGBTQ

Aussie director pulls film from China over homophobic AI edit

Australian filmmaker Michael Shanks has called out the “baffling” move by a Chinese distributor to censor his acclaimed horror flick Together by using AI to turn a gay couple straight.

Qnews | 4-Oct-25
India , Censorship , Regulation , CBFC

Moral Board: Editorial on CBFC overreach and the shrinking space for artistic freedom

With over 720 hours of film content altered and no appellate body in place, CBFC’s unchecked powers stifle creative expression and reflect deeper State control over cultural narratives

The Telegraph Online | 3-Oct-25
US , Entertainment Business , Streaming Platforms

AVOD vs. Subscriptions: Why Free Streaming Is Winning the War for Viewers

Streaming has become a cornerstone of modern entertainment, but the landscape is shifting. While subscription-based platforms like Netflix and Disney+ once dominated, a new wave of competitors has emerged in the TV and film space: AVOD (advertising video on demand) platforms. These services provide content creators, influencers, how-to videos and now TV and film quality content, along with sports and live entertainment, all supported by ads.

RollingStone | 2-Oct-25
US , Entertainment Business , Backlash

Meet Tilly Norwood, the AI 'actress' prompting backlash from real Hollywood stars

An AI "actress" called Tilly Norwood, and the European company that created her, have been criticized by real, live Hollywood talent and the American union that represents actors following the virtual star's debut.

CBC | 1-Oct-25
US , Ratings , IARC

Roblox removes unrated games over child safety concerns

On September 30, Roblox began removing all "unrated experiences", effectively shutting down the grey-area titles that players over 13 could previously access by simply confirming their age.

Techloy | 1-Oct-25
US , Entertainment Business , Streaming Platforms

Report: Nearly 50% of U.S. Households Watch FAST Channels Weekly

With 47% of U.S. households now actively engaged with free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) on a weekly basis, new data from Wurl, the streaming TV subsidiary of publicly held AppLovin, finds that the number of monthly active households watching FAST channels has grown 12% in 2025, while average daily hours of viewing per household climbed 16%, producing a 29% increase in total viewing time across platforms compared with 2024.

Media Play News | 1-Oct-25
Iran , Censorship , New Release , Government

Iranian director Jafar Panahi defies censors again with new film

Iranian director Jafar Panahi, whose latest film won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, told AFP he would continue to defy his country's censors and ignore the risk of returning to prison.

France 24 | 30-Sep-25
US , TikTok , Entertainment Business , Government

Donald Trump’s TikTok Deal Could Prove Treacherous For Content Creators, Politically & Economically

With far-reaching implications on the influential platform, the administration is in the final stages of negotiating terms of a multi-billion dollar purchase that would transfer majority ownership of TikTok in the U.S. to a group of MAGA-friendly billionaires.

Deadline | 30-Sep-25
Australia , Ratings , Classification , Government

Kids exposed: Video game age ratings still failing Australian families

A year after new laws came into force requiring video games with loot boxes and simulated gambling to carry higher age restrictions, a new analysis by researchers in the Sydney Games and Play Lab has found widespread non-compliance and misleading age ratings across the major app stores.

The University of Sydney | 30-Sep-25