• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
UK soon to launch ID checks for anyone trying to access pornography online

Home> News> Tech News

Published 13:26 20 Jan 2025 GMT

UK soon to launch ID checks for anyone trying to access pornography online

Ofcom will be monitoring the industry reaction 'closely'

Tom Chapman

Tom Chapman

The pornography industry continues to boom, and while it's come a long way from buying magazines from the top shelf, the online porn business has never been bigger. Sites like Pornhub and OnlyFans are some of the most popular out there, but there are continued concerns about how easy they are to access.

Now, Ofcom has warned people in the United Kingdom that they will soon have to provide ID to visit these 'adult' sites.

In new guidelines published on January 16, Ofcom reiterated the enhanced version of the Online Safety Act has been given a hard deadline of July 2025.

More than just what we might consider typical 'porn' sites, the Online Safety Act has stipulated that it will also apply to social media platforms.

Advert

Expect major changes to how pornography is accessed in the United Kingdom (Andrii Lysenko / Getty)
Expect major changes to how pornography is accessed in the United Kingdom (Andrii Lysenko / Getty)

These 'highly effective' verification methods include facial recognition, credit card checks, or matching someone with a photo ID.

Companies that breach these new rules could face fines of up to 10% of their turnover.

Social media and search engines have until April 16 to conduct assessments on whether children can access their services.

Advert

It comes after research from the Children's Commissioner suggested that the average age children in the UK first come across pornographic materials online is 13. One in 10 are said to be viewing them as young as nine. The Children's Commissioner says this pornography regularly depicts "degradation, sexual coercion, aggression and exploitation."

Although set to be divisive, Ofcom claims around 80% of adults are 'broadly supportive' of these measures and that UK residents are told to expect to see changes in how they access online pornography over the next few months.

Ofcom Chief Executive Melanie Dawes said: "For too long, many online services which allow porn and other harmful material have ignored the fact that children are accessing their services. Either they don’t ask or, when they do, the checks are minimal and easy to avoid."

She adds that companies have been treating all users (even if they're children) as adults. Dawes maintains this has left children 'exposed' to porn and other types of 'harmful' content.

Advert

Looking ahead, she concluded: "We’ll be monitoring the response from industry closely. Those companies that fail to meet these new requirements can expect to face enforcement action from Ofcom."

Sites with pornographic content will have to include 'robust' age verification (Peter Dazeley / Getty)
Sites with pornographic content will have to include 'robust' age verification (Peter Dazeley / Getty)

This is all part of the next steps of implementing the Online Safety Act after it was passed into law in October 2023.

The sweeping changes will affect all sites that allow pornographic material, no matter what the size. It means that it's not just the juggernauts like Pornhub and OnlyFans that will have to change how they work.

Advert

Noticeably, these age restrictions come after Florida joined the growing number of U.S. States that have banned Pornhub as it refused to comply with similar age verification rules. Florida residents have been getting around this with VPNs, but when it comes to the UK, the idea that you could be charged 10% of turnover might push things in a different direction. As for Ofcom, it sounds like a case of making a change or it could cost you dearly.

Featured Image Credit: Leon Neal/Staff / NurPhoto/Contributor / Getty
Social Media
News

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Man who came off Ozempic shares essential advice to anyone deciding to stop the medication
  • American state preparing to ban social media for anyone under 18 in move that could 'rewrite online childhood'
  • Biohacker trying to 'live forever' issues warning to anyone who sleeps less than four hours per night
  • Controversial new US visa rules will force foreign students to unlock their social media accounts for officials

Choose your content:

17 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • 17 mins ago

    Experts weigh in as residents flee Florida town after it's named 'worst housing market in America'

    A whopping 12,000 homes are currently for sale in the town

    News
  • an hour ago

    Horrifying simulation details exactly how cancer develops in the body

    It's estimated that 618,120 people will die from cancer in the USA in 2025

    Science
  • 2 hours ago

    Elon Musk's 'improved' AI deletes disturbing posts after chatbot praised Adolf Hitler

    xAI's Grok made direct references to Nazi ideology

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Calls for Attorney General Pam Bondi to resign after major twist in Epstein files

    It's claimed that the Trump administration 'lied' to the American people

    News