UK adults who attempt to visit pornographic websites will find they are blocked from accessing content later this week. A ‘significant change’ is being implemented, and it means popular online X-rated platforms won’t be available until proof of age is confirmed. The update is being enforced by UK regulator Ofcom in a bid to stop children being exposed to adult content and is part of the latest Online Safety Act.
“This is a significant change to how adults in the UK access pornography, and is a key step in helping to protect children from harmful content when they’re online,” Ofcom said in a recent online post.
It’s an important change. New research from the regulator recently found that eight per cent of children aged 8-14 in the UK visited an online porn site or app in a month – including around three percent of 8–9-year-olds.
Boys aged 13-14 were most likely to visit a porn service, significantly more than girls the same age.
It’s now hoped that by making it more difficult to view websites, far fewer younger people will end up watching or be harmed by what they see.
The changes come into force from July 25 and will mean anyone trying to click on sites will need to prove who they are before any content can be viewed.
“When you visit a site or app that allows pornography, you shouldn’t be able to see this content before you’re asked to confirm your age,” Ofcom explained.
“To make the experience more accessible and transparent, you should be able to read a statement setting out the kinds of age checks that you can use, and how they work.”
Checks will include sites offering facial recognition, email matching, along with allowing age-verification services to confirm if someone is over 18. Bank details can also be provided along with mobile operator validation, which proves date of birth.
Ofcom says that strong age checks can be done effectively, safely, and in a way that protects your privacy. However, it also warns that all consumers should be alert when handing over any private information.
“As with everything you do online, you should exercise a degree of caution and judgement when giving over personal information,” Ofcom explained.
It’s currently unclear how effective this change will be and how consumers will feel about handing over highly personal data in a bid to view adult content.
Ofcom is clearly on a mission to make it work, with the regulator warning that it can impose fines of up to £18m if sites don’t add verification blocks.
“We expect sites and apps to engage with us and comply with their duties under our new rules.”