UK Implements Strict Age Verification for Adult Websites Including OnlyFans
The United Kingdom is set to enhance online safety with the introduction of mandatory age verification systems on adult websites such as OnlyFans and Pornhub. This move, part of the broader Online Safety Bill 2023, aims to curb the access of minors to explicit content online. The UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, mandated that all platforms featuring adult content must deploy rigorous age checks by July 2025 to prevent underage usage.
Ofcom's Stance on Age Verification
Ofcom's Chief Executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, emphasized the need for these new regulations, citing the previous ease with which minors could access adult material online due to lax verification processes. "For too long, online services allowing access to pornographic and other harmful materials have neglected the presence of children on their platforms," Dame Melanie stated. She criticized the minimal efforts made by such platforms in the past, which treated all users as adults, thereby exposing children to potentially harmful content.
Potential Age Verification Methods
Dame Melanie outlined multiple methods that adult websites could adopt to ensure a user’s age, ensuring compliance with the new regulations:
- Credit card checks executed directly by the websites.
- Open banking solutions to securely verify age.
- Photo ID matching to confirm the user is of appropriate age.
- Utilization of mobile network operators for age verification.
- Facial age estimation technologies.
- Email-based age estimation techniques.
- Digital identity services providing reliable age confirmation.
These methods aim to create a secure environment where only adults can access content deemed inappropriate for minors. "Services which host their own pornography must start to introduce age checks immediately," Dame Melanie added, stressing the urgency of implementing these measures ahead of the July 2025 deadline.
Broader Implications and Goals
The implementation of strict age verification measures follows increasing concerns about the easy access minors have to inappropriate online content. This initiative is part of a wider effort to make the digital space safer for all users, especially younger individuals. The methods for verification will vary among services, each necessitating proof of age before access is granted.
