Amazon Prime Video forced to remove film from streaming after just one Ofcom complaint

Amazon Prime Video took down a film from the streaming service after receiving just one shocking Ofcom complaint.

Filipino film Pamasahe, directed by Roman Perez Jr, was available to watch but was taken down after Ofcom found the 2022 film breached its code with one scene.

Pamashe follows a penniless mother (Azi Acosta) who, with her infant child, turned to sex work in a bid to raise money and reunite with her husband.

The scene in question included a baby in the same shot as sexual activity taking place, which breaks the Protection of Children Act 1978.

Ofcom received the complaint from a viewer who was ‘concerned about the inclusion of a baby in scenes depicting sexual activity between adults’.

The regulator then went to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) who advised that the scene ‘contains a frame that would contravene the Protection of Children Act 1978….on the basis that it shows a child in the same frame as sexual activity,’ according to Deadline.

Pamasahe’s singular Ofcom complaint saw it pulled from the streamer (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)

The BBFC then reportedly contacted Amazon, which led to the movie being removed from the streaming service in the UK.

Amazon told the publication that its measures for detecting prohibited material is ‘robust, complete, and effective’, however, ‘these sorts of content policies are nuanced and we regularly evaluate where we can make improvements.’

Last month, the House of Lords passed the Media Bill that now sees streaming services not previously regulated by Ofcom now overseen by the government-approved group.

This includes Netflix, Disney Plus, and Prime Video, with Ofcom stating: ‘These services will be subject to editorial standards similar to the ones that protect people from harmful content on broadcast TV.

The Media Bill means Ofcom regulates streaming services not previously regulated by the government-approved watchdog (Picture: Getty)

‘This means we will be handling complaints about content shown on these platforms. Streaming services will also be subject to accessibility requirements such as subtitling, so more disabled people can access this content.’

The Media Bill is the first major update to UK legislation in 20 years, and Pamasahe’s removal from Prime Video UK due to Ofcom is the first of its kind for the streaming service.

Of the change, the Ofcom website states: ‘It sets out to make sure UK audiences have access to a wide range of high quality live and on-demand TV, while protecting people from harmful or offensive material.’

Currently, according to JustWatch, Pamasahe is not available to buy, rent, or stream anywhere in the UK.

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