OnlyFans Fined £1.2 Million Over Age Verification Failures
OnlyFans, the widely recognized content-sharing platform, has been subjected to a £1.2 million fine by the UK's regulatory body, Ofcom. This action follows an exhaustive investigation concerning the platform's procedures for verifying the age of its users, specifically aimed at preventing minors from accessing adult content.
Investigation Highlights Inadequate Age Checks
The probe into OnlyFans' age verification methods spanned from June 2022 to June 2023. It uncovered significant oversights, most notably the platform's failure to correctly set the age threshold for user access. Originally, the platform claimed to employ the Yoti age verification tool, which was intended to restrict users under the age of 23. Subsequent findings indicated that the threshold was erroneously set to under 20, a mistake acknowledged by OnlyFans' parent company, Fenix International Limited, in January 2024—two weeks post its discovery.
Adjustments and Regulatory Compliance
In rectifying these issues, OnlyFans has recalibrated its age verification threshold to 21 years. This adjustment aligns more closely with British legal standards and reflects a concerted effort by OnlyFans executives to adhere to regulatory requirements. Although primary aspects of the initial inquiry—concerning the protection of children from explicit content and Fenix's cooperativeness—were concluded last month, Ofcom continues its collaboration with OnlyFans. The purpose of this ongoing partnership is to finesse the age verification mechanisms in place and ensure continued compliance with UK laws governing video-sharing platforms.
Ongoing Commitments and Regulatory Oversight
While related inquiries into Fenix's compliance with regulatory processes have concluded without specific findings, Ofcom reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to work alongside OnlyFans. The aim is to enhance age verification practices and uphold stringent standards set for digital platforms ensuring the welfare and protection of all users.
