The era of simple age confirmation boxes for accessing pornography is drawing to a close.
As of Friday, websites operating in the UK that feature pornographic content are mandated to implement “robust” age verification measures for their users.
Adults seeking to access explicit material should anticipate a notable shift in their online experience. Websites failing to comply with these new regulations could face substantial fines, potentially reaching £18 million or 10% of their global revenue.
Ofcom, which estimates that approximately 14 million individuals in the UK engage with online pornography, asserts that these enhanced age checks will significantly impede children’s exposure to potentially harmful content.
However, questions remain regarding the efficacy of these new rules, established under the Online Safety Act. Are they truly foolproof, or will individuals find ways to circumvent them? Which platforms will be implementing age verification protocols?
Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has outlined various methods by which websites can verify user age, including credit card verification, photo ID matching, and age estimation through selfie analysis.
The regulator reports that thousands of websites have already committed to implementing age verification measures.
Regardless of the chosen method, platforms are required to ensure that their age verification systems are “technically accurate, robust, reliable and fair.”
Several sites hosting sexually explicit content have already pledged to introduce age checks.
However, Ofcom emphasizes that these platforms must also address potential circumvention methods.
In response to a BBC News article detailing the seven age verification methods adult websites may employ in the UK, and the companies potentially involved, one reader’s comment resonated with many: “Sure, I will give out my sensitive information to some random, unproven company or… I will use a VPN. Difficult choice.”
A virtual private network (VPN) is a legitimate tool used to establish a secure connection between devices over the internet.
While offering a range of applications, VPNs can also be used to bypass geographical restrictions and content blocking.
According to Ofcom, platforms are prohibited from hosting, sharing, or facilitating content that encourages the use of VPNs to circumvent age verification measures.
The government has clarified that, under the Online Safety Act, such actions by platforms will be deemed illegal.
The regulator cautions that if children utilize VPNs to access the internet, they “would not be able to benefit from the protections of the Online Safety Act.”
Concerned parents are advised to block or control VPN usage.
Katie Freeman-Tayler from Internet Matters, a children’s online safety organization, anticipates an increase in VPN usage as the new regulations take effect.
“VPN use is only likely to increase when measures come into force later this week,” she stated.
A spokesperson for Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, suggested that the issue of VPNs is a matter for governments to address.
“We certainly do not recommend that anyone uses technology to bypass the law,” they affirmed.
While Ofcom’s suggested age verification methods have raised some questions, cyber security expert Chelsea Jarvie contends that these methods “are effective at proving someone’s age and include controls to prevent circumvention.”
“However, like all technology controls, determined users will try to find ways around them and we may see users turning to more anonymous methods to access online content,” she cautioned.
An additional challenge lies in maintaining user trust in the wake of high-profile cyberattacks.
“Many remain cautious about handing over personal identity information in order to prove their age,” Jarvie noted.
Age verification companies maintain that their systems are robust and capable of preventing circumvention.
“It is possible that an adult could complete an age check on behalf of a child if they were passed a device,” added Andy Lulham from Verifymy.
“This would be comparable to an adult going into a shop and buying a pornographic magazine on behalf of a child, and would be extremely irresponsible.”
All sites and apps that allow pornography in the UK will be required to have “highly effective” methods to check the age of users by 25 July.
Pornhub and a number of other major adult websites have confirmed they will introduce enhanced age checks, while Reddit has already introduced age verification to stop people aged under 18 from looking at “certain mature content”.
Ofcom said X and Grindr have committed to age checks. X says it is planning to introduce facial age estimation using its own artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Facial scans will also be used by Telegram to determine if users are over or under 18, according to the platform’s privacy policy.
Discord gives UK users a choice of face or ID scanning as a way to verify their age, after testing methods, and Bluesky says it will give UK users a range of different verification options.
Many more services which allow sexually explicit material may need to bring in measures to comply with the new rules.
Tom, a man in his 20s who has been consuming pornography since adolescence, expresses concerns about sharing personal data to access pornographic websites.
“It’s not a question of if something will leak, but when,” he told the BBC.
He is worried about the potential consequences of data breaches, particularly for users whose viewing habits could inadvertently reveal their sexuality to friends and family before they are ready to disclose it.
Age verification companies assured the BBC that data retention is not a standard practice.
Shea, also in his 20s and a daily consumer of pornography, shares similar concerns.
“Please upload a face scan of your ID and passport? No thank you,” he stated.
He believes that the requirement to verify age will dissuade many individuals who seek quick and seamless access to content.
Instead, he predicts that some will seek adult content elsewhere.
“It’s just pushing people into the fringe of the extremes,” he said. “It’s not stopping you from watching porn.”
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