By Dacast Editorial Team | Reviewed by Jon Whitehead, COO at Dacast | Updated July 2026<\/i><\/p>\n
The numbers are in, and they clearly show that regular TV programming is out, and streaming on OTT platforms is set to replace it. By 2029, the number of global OTT users is projected to reach 4.91 billion, representing a 25.46% growth rate from 2024 (Statista via DemandSage<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n The popularity of OTT platforms<\/a> is obvious. Why wait to watch an episode a day of a rerun of your favorite show when you can watch every season at once, whenever you want? Then, there is the sheer variety and quantity of content available online.<\/span><\/p>\n As the OTT user base grows, however, so do general concerns about privacy protection and compliance with legal regulations. Services with OTT platforms operate online and stream millions of bytes of content, drawing in international audiences who entrust them with their personal information to use their service. How do they ensure that every consumer\u2019s data is protected and each piece of content is properly licensed?<\/span><\/p>\n Dacast has one of the <\/span>leading OTT platforms<\/a><\/span> on the market, so we know all about <\/span>video streaming regulations<\/span> and <\/span>data privacy in streaming services<\/span>. We\u2019ll break down the key aspects of <\/span>OTT compliance<\/span>, explain the importance of protecting user data, and highlight best practices to avoid common <\/span>legal issues in OTT streaming<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n TL;DR \u2013 OTT Compliance in 2026:<\/b><\/p>\n OTT is short for <\/span>over-the-top<\/span><\/a>, a service that delivers content from the provider straight to the consumer using the Internet. It removes the middleman, aka cable companies, and gives unlimited access to video, music, and live streams.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n While most providers allow users to watch this content on their own time, some services still provide <\/span>linear broadcasting<\/span><\/a> online. Thus, <\/span>IPTV<\/span><\/a> allows users to enjoy the classic TV experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even though <\/span>OTT technology<\/span><\/a> distributes content exclusively online, they don\u2019t have free reign over the Internet. These companies must comply with regional and international laws protecting providers, users, and content creators. In that sense, <\/span>OTT compliance<\/span> is:<\/span><\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t matter which <\/span>streaming platform with OTT services<\/span><\/a> consumers use \u2013 they all collect and store personal data. From your location and age to your favorite type of content, this is all information they collect daily. But why? Well, there are several justified reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n This is where the trouble starts. Sort of. The more data a platforms collect, the better service it can provide. On the other hand, the need to protect it also rises. According to Verizon\u2019s 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report, 90% of data breaches are financially motivated (Verizon DBIR<\/a>). Personal and payment information remain high-value targets for cybercriminals, and any data breach will have severe consequences for the platform and its users.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Data privacy in video streaming services<\/span> is more important than ever, so the efforts to protect it must also be great.<\/span><\/p>\n While the Internet (metaphorically) opens up borders and allows viewers worldwide to use your OTT services<\/a>, it also raises the question of compliance with the law. Providers must follow specific privacy laws set in place to protect users\u2019 personal data from unauthorized access and misuse.<\/span><\/p>\n However, the privacy laws in China differ from those in North America, for example, so which ones does the provider follow? They can choose to comply with the privacy requirements in their own region, but this <\/span>regional OTT compliance<\/span> may cut off an entire section of the international market. In general, there are three major privacy regulations OTT platforms must adhere to:<\/span><\/p>\n Another issue that <\/span>providers of OTT platform solutions<\/span><\/a> can face is data sovereignty. This is the requirement that they store and process data within the borders of a specific country. Many countries enforce these laws so local governments can control data within their jurisdictions.<\/span><\/p>\n As we said before, to give their users the best possible viewing experience, OTT platforms need their data. One of the <\/span>strategies OTT services use<\/span><\/a> to reach new audiences also involves user data. Data is the best currency, and the more you have, the better services you can offer.<\/span><\/p>\n However, you also have more to lose and are at greater risk of data breaches and breaches of international privacy laws. No one wants to suffer the loss of reputation and trust if one of these cyber attacks succeeds.<\/span><\/p>\n Providers are always trying to find the balance between collecting the necessary information from their users and following the <\/span>legal requirements for OTT platforms<\/span> to keep that information safe and secure.<\/span><\/p>\n When choosing where to watch their streams and broadcasts, most consumers have a <\/span>list of the OTT features<\/a> the platform must have<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n According to a Norton survey of 10,000 adults across 10 countries, 85% of adults worldwide say they want to do more to protect their online privacy (<\/span>Norton via ElectroIQ<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0The few essential cyber safety features all OTT platforms must have include:<\/span> At Dacast, we take data protection very seriously. We implement end-to-end encryption for all video content streamed on our OTT platform, protecting users\u2019 content and personal information.<\/span><\/p>\n Our payment systems are fully PCI-compliant, and we follow stringent security protocols to safeguard financial transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n We also comply with global privacy regulations, such as the <\/span>GDPR<\/span><\/a> and CCPA, and continuously update our security measures to stay ahead of evolving threats.<\/span><\/p>\n Some of the <\/span>biggest trends in the OTT<\/a><\/span> industry<\/a> all focus on novel and engaging content. We\u2019ve got <\/span>cloud-based<\/span><\/a> content and interactive content coming from all sides. So, as the offer continues to grow and diversify, so do the legal requirements surrounding content licensing and distribution.<\/span><\/p>\n The differing global audiences have differing tastes in content, so providers must secure the intellectual property and distribution rights to and from other countries.<\/span><\/p>\n Quality and varied content are at the heart of every good OTT service. Whether that content is movies, TV shows, documentaries, or live streams, as long as it has gig production and entertainment value, your viewers will watch it, regardless of their country of origin.<\/span><\/p>\n The services must procure all legal permissions to stream material to avoid <\/span>copyright issues in OTT streaming<\/a><\/span>. This is called licensing, and it involves:<\/span><\/p>\n OTT services operate in a global marketplace, but content rights are typically territorial. Depending on the region, a single piece of content might have different distribution rights and follow different <\/span>OTT broadcasting regulations<\/span>\n
Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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OTT Compliance: What Is It and Why It Matters?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Why Do OTT Platforms Collect Consumer Data<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"ott](\"https:\/\/prod-images.dacast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ott-cms-1024x683-1.jpg\")
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The Need for OTT Platforms To Have Strong Data Protection<\/strong><\/h3>\n
OTT Privacy Laws: Protecting Your Users Data<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Data Sovereignty<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Challenges OTT Faces When Managing User Privacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Best Security Practices for Data Protection<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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OTT Platform Legal Considerations for Content<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Content Licensing for OTT Services<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Content](\"https:\/\/prod-images.dacast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/ott-channel-costs.jpg\")
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Global Content Distribution Rights and the Challenges of Acquiring and Managing Licenses<\/strong><\/h2>\n