Ofcom Issues Age Check Rules for Online Porn Websites in UK

LONDON—Ofcom, the United Kingdom’s (UK) communications regulator, on Thursday announced new regulations and guidance on age checks that online pornography platforms must implement under the country’s controversial Online Safety Act. The Online Safety Act was adopted in 2023 by both houses of the U.K. Parliament. “For too long, many online services which allow porn and other harmful material have ignored the fact that children are accessing their services,” said Melanie Dawes, the chief executive of Ofcom, in a news release shared with AVN over email. "That means companies have effectively been treating all users as if they’re adults, leaving children potentially exposed to porn and other types of harmful content,” she said. Ofcom published its adult entertainment and technology-focused industry guidance on “effective age checks” to prevent minors from viewing age-restricted materials, such as online pornography and other material that could be regarded as “harmful content” to minors. Dawes announced that online porn platforms have until July 2025 to deploy age verification measures for all users navigating to such platforms from IP addresses in the United Kingdom’s national digital space. The official guidance is titled “Age Assurance and Children’s Access,” and it covers platforms regulated by part 3 requirements for “highly effective” age verification. Ofcom, under the duty of part 3 online services, covers platforms like Pornhub. The platform regulations for part 3 services require, “All providers of part 3 services are required to carry out children’s access assessments to determine whether a service or part of a service is likely to be accessed by children.” Tim Henning, executive director of the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP), urged adult platforms worldwide to comply with the rules. “Today’s statement by Ofcom signals that platforms must now take action to comply with these new rules designed to provide a safer online life for children,” Henning said. “As a reminder, any service that allows pornography must implement ‘highly effective age assurance’ that prohibits children from accessing this material.” “ASACP believes that all apps, platforms, and sites that allow, enable, or feature adult-oriented content should comply with the UK mandate, regardless of their location or primary market,” Henning concluded. “Doing so not only helps to protect children, but it’s good business, too!” Ofcom previously issued its first edition of online safety guidance in December 2024. AVN reported that its first edition of regulations on online platforms to prevent illegal harm on the internet. The publication of these codes of practice and guidance is part of Ofcom’s statutory duty under the Online Safety Act implemented in 2023.