Ofcom enforces new guidelines for online pornography sites to prevent underage access, with potential fines for non-compliance

In a bid to safeguard children from exposure to adult content, the UK is set to introduce stringent age verification checks for online pornography sites. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has released enforcement guidelines that will require users to prove their age through methods such as facial scans, credit card verification, or photo-ID checks. These new rules will apply to a wide range of platforms, including social media, OnlyFans, and Pornhub, with enforcement beginning in spring 2025.

The new measures aim to tackle the growing problem of children accessing adult content online, with research showing that the average age for first exposure to pornography in England is just 13, and some as young as nine. Ofcom’s chief executive, Melanie Dawes, criticized the lax approach many platforms have had in addressing age verification, which she said had allowed children to easily access adult material.

The regulations are part of the broader Online Safety Act, which holds companies accountable for the protection of children from harmful content. Under the new guidelines, platforms must implement “highly effective” age checks before users can access pornographic content. If they fail to comply, they could face fines of up to 10% of their annual turnover.

Almudena Lara, Ofcom’s policy director for child protection, emphasized that no matter where a platform is based, compliance with UK rules will be mandatory for all services operating in the country. Ofcom also suggested the use of cross-referencing systems, such as verifying email addresses against financial institutions or utility bills, as an alternative to facial scans.

While the new measures will certainly enhance child protection, the challenge remains ensuring compliance across the board. With numerous pornographic platforms worldwide, the difficulty will lie in consistently enforcing these regulations, especially when some sites may choose to flout the rules.

Ofcom has also stated that adult users’ privacy will be respected, and access to legal pornography will remain available. However, platforms will not be permitted to display any pornographic content before the age verification process is complete.