The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) is reviewing and updating media rules to address growing concerns over extreme and humiliating acts on live streaming platforms like TikTok.
While the growth of live streaming offers citizens new ways to express creativity and engage in the digital economy, extreme acts performed during live broadcasts to attract viewers and money have raised serious worries.
“BICMA believes that digital creativity must go hand in hand with responsibility, respect for others and compliance with the laws and values of Bhutanese society,” an official from BICMA said.
Real-time broadcasting presents unique regulatory hurdles because content reaches large audiences quickly and can disappear before review. Consequently, oversight relies heavily on public reports alongside active monitoring. The authority has already issued warnings to several creators involved in extreme punishment shows, following public complaints.
To strengthen oversight, provisions for user-generated content are being extensively updated. Under the updated Content Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2026, broadcasts involving self-harm, cyberbullying, harassment, and sexual exploitation are strictly prohibited.
The regulatory framework enables BICMA to legally require platform operators to implement technical controls such as age-assurance tools, parental controls, and content filters. A multi-agency Rapid Response Team has also been established to coordinate fast interventions for high-risk online threats.
“Global digital platforms present certain jurisdictional and technical challenges for BICMA in regulating online content and taking timely action against harmful material,” an official said. Third-party platforms operate across multiple jurisdictions with content moderation systems based outside Bhutan, meaning the authority cannot remove content unilaterally.
The public is advised to use in-app reporting features to flag violations directly to platform operators and to refrain from sharing or amplifying harmful material. Matters involving suspected criminal conduct, such as defamation, threats, or severe harassment, may be referred to law enforcement agencies.
Following the endorsement of the revised rules, BICMA plans to launch a nationwide advocacy and digital literacy program to promote responsible digital citizenship among young users and content creators to advocate for safe and ethical online conduct, awareness of the potential consequences of harmful content, and the shared responsibility of individuals and communities in protecting young users in digital spaces.
