The Government of Gibraltar has today published regulations which amend section 35 of the Broadcasting Act 2012. The changes to the Act address concerns raised by the European Commission regarding the effectiveness of the current section 35 with respect to the protection of minors from on-demand audiovisual media services. As amended, section 35 will protect minors from programmes which might seriously impair their physical, mental or moral development (where content includes pornography or gratuitous violence).

Regard will need to be had to the time of a broadcast or technical measures that ensure minors will not normally hear or see such broadcasts. In free-to-air transmissions broadcasts shall be preceded by an acoustic warning or shall be identified by the presence of a visual symbol throughout the duration. On-demand audiovisual media services under Gibraltar jurisdiction will also need to ensure that services are made available in such a way as to ensure that minors will not normally hear or see such services.