The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is pleased to announce a significant step in using AI to support local classification in a new strategic partnership announced today with Germany’s Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft (FSK).
CLEARD, developed by BBFC Technology Ltd, is an advanced AI compliance solution designed to deliver trusted, localised age ratings for multiple countries from a single compliance viewing — streamlining local compliance and accelerating global digital distribution.
Through a new strategic partnership with the BBFC, the FSK is in the formal process of seeking accreditation by the federal authorities for CLEARD to generate legally backed age ratings in Germany.
Once approved, the age ratings generated by CLEARD will be used on digital, streaming and video-on-demand services in Germany.
All CLEARD age ratings reflect national laws and content standards in each country. And, as such, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to empower audiences with locally recognised and trusted age ratings on a global scale, whilst also protecting children from potentially harmful content.
CLEARD will be showcased at the DEG Roadshow Berlin, in partnership with AllScreens and at the DEG Roadshow London by BBFC Technology.
Tomorrow, at the BASE DEG Roadshow in Berlin, FSK and SPIO’s Managing Director Stefan Linz will deliver a keynote speech titled ‘Local age rating at scale AI, compliance and collaboration in Global Digital Content Distribution’. His address will explore how acceleration in digital distribution is reshaping the compliance landscape and enhancing cross-border collaboration.
The BBFC is also proud to be an official sponsor for the DEG Roadshows 2025. The Berlin Roadshow marks the first in a series of events where industry stakeholders can explore CLEARD’s capabilities, ahead of its launch to market later this year. CLEARD is currently being piloted by the BBFC in the UK.
Today’s partnership represents the future of scalable, AI-driven content classification—powering safer, more transparent viewing experiences across borders.
BBFC Chief Executive, David Austin OBE said: “We are thrilled to be deepening our partnership with the FSK at such a pivotal moment. Their move towards formal accreditation of CLEARD to generate legally backed age ratings highlights a shared belief in the value of smart, collaborative innovation that safeguards local content standards, protects children from potential harm and helps families make informed viewing decisions. Together, we are laying the groundwork for global collaboration to enable us to take a unified, agile and responsible approach to local age ratings for digital content, now, on a global scale.”
SPIO Vice President and AllScreens Chief Executive Peter Schauerte added: “The SPIO as the German film industry association appreciates the collaboration between the FSK and the BBFC. We are confident that CLEARD will effectively support the needs of the film industry for online distribution of their content by providing legally compliant age ratings and content advice once accredited. Thanks to its smart design, the system is capable of classifying audiovisual content with remarkable precision and effectiveness.”
FSK and SPIO Managing Director, Stefan Linz said: “CLEARD will support online service providers in using national, legally backed ratings, strengthening child protection as well as promoting scale. FSK age ratings and content advice, established through classification procedures with independent experts and involving state representatives, are the basis for the quality of the system and continuous development. Upon accreditation CLEARD will be a welcome addition to our classification services combining the latest technology with human expertise at the beginning and end of the process.”
The FSK is the first industry service provider to officially partner with the BBFC to seek legal recognition for the ratings generated by CLEARD.
The BBFC is currently piloting CLEARD in the UK, whereby distributors can receive multiple localised age ratings for digital use through a single compliance process—saving time, reducing friction and ensuring local content standards are met in every country.
Developed by BBFC Technology Ltd, CLEARD is a groundbreaking AI-powered tool delivering fully localised age ratings for multiple countries—all from a single compliance viewing. Built in collaboration with international partners, CLEARD is designed to meet the demands of global digital content distribution— streamlining compliance, reducing delays, and ensuring content reaches audiences quickly, responsibly, and in line with local standards.
For press enquiries: press@cleard.org
For industry:info@cleard.org (for more information or to request a demo)
The SPIO, as the German Film Industry Association, represents the interests of the German film industry in the areas of film production, film distribution, film theaters and audiovisual media. As an umbrella organization of 16 professional associations, it represents more than 1,400 member companies. The aim of the SPIO is to strengthen German film in its diversity, quality and international perception and to ensure its competitiveness as an economic and cultural asset.
The FSK is the self-regulatory body of the German Film Industry carried by the SPIO. The FSK is responsible for age ratings of audiovisual content, ranging from feature films, documentaries, series, trailers, to commercials and clips across all distribution channels. FSK age ratings and content advice offer orientation for families and legal compliance for businesses. Over the course of its history, the FSK has evolved beyond its core function as a classification body. The FSK takes on media policy and educational responsibilities, actively promoting the participation of children and adolescents. Learn more on fsk.de
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is the independent film and video regulator for the UK. Through widely recognised and trusted age ratings and content advice, the BBFC works to protect children and vulnerable adults from potentially harmful content and to empower audiences to make informed viewing decisions. All BBFC classification decisions are based on our Classification Guidelines, which are updated every four to five years to ensure our standards continue to reflect the expectations and values of people across the UK. Please visit bbfc.co.uk for further information.
For press enquiries:
Please contact +44 (0) 7946 423719 or press@bbfc.co.uk
BBFC Technology Ltd creates cutting-edge compliance solutions for content distributors and regulators. Backed by over a century of classification expertise, BBFC Technology combines regulatory insight with AI innovation to help digital content distributors navigate local age rating requirements with speed, accuracy, and confidence.
