OnlyFans Fined by UK Regulator Over Age Verification Failures
OnlyFans, a leading platform known for adult content, has been fined £1.05 million ($1.4 million) by the United Kingdom's communications regulator, Ofcom. The fine was issued for failing to provide accurate information about the platform's age verification processes.
Details of the Ofcom Investigation
The investigation, conducted between June 2022 and June 2023, revealed that OnlyFans failed to meet its obligation to ensure that all users were of legal age. The issue was related to an inconsistency in the age-verification tool provided by Yoti, which incorrectly set the age verification threshold to under 20 years, instead of under 23 years as intended.
OnlyFans’ Parent Company's Response and Actions
Fenix International Limited, the parent company of OnlyFans, reported this error to Ofcom in January 2024, more than 16 months after the initial data request by the regulator and two weeks after the error was internally recognized. Following this incident, OnlyFans adjusted its internal age verification threshold to 21 years, asserting that this level is adequate to meet statutory obligations and protect user safety.
Regulatory Response and Penalties
Ofcom emphasized the critical nature of receiving precise and comprehensive information which influences the regulator's ability to monitor compliance with user safety standards. Suzanne Cater, Ofcom’s enforcement director, stressed, "Receiving accurate and complete information is fundamental for Ofcom to do its job as a regulator and to understand and monitor how platforms are operating."
Initially, the fine was larger, but it was reduced after Fenix acknowledged the findings and agreed to a settlement. Ofcom has also previously closed a related investigation into the company’s cooperation without findings but reaffirmed its resolve to hold platforms accountable for any shortcomings.
OnlyFans’ Official Statement on the Matter
In response to the resolution, a spokesperson from OnlyFans commented, "OnlyFans recognizes the importance of providing Ofcom with accurate and timely information. We welcome the conclusion of this process and Ofcom’s previous decision to close their investigation into our age assurance measures."
