PornHub and other sites to require ‘robust’ age checks in the UK
Major pornography websites which operate in the UK have confirmed that they will introduce ‘highly effective’ age verification checks next month.
In a statement published on 26 June, Ofcom said major pornography providers confirmed to the regulator that they would introduce robust checks by the deadline of 25 July to comply with the UK’s rules related to adult content.
In compliance with the Online Safety Act, effective age verification methods can include measures such as credit card checks, photo ID, open banking, or facial age estimation technology.
Websites using simple buttons or checkboxes that ask the user to confirm they are over 18 will not be in compliance with the UK’s new laws.
Operators which have confirmed to Ofcom that they will implement effective age checks encompass a broad range of major pornography services accessed in the UK.
If any company fails to comply with the new age verification rules, they can be subject to fines £18m or 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue (whichever is greater), or even court orders to prevent their website or application from being available in the country.
Methods of age verification
Examples of compliant age assurance methods cited by Ofcom are listed below:
- Facial age estimation – you show your face via photo or video, and technology analyses it to estimate your age.
- Open banking – you give permission for the age-check service to securely access information from your bank about whether you are over 18. The age-check service then confirms this with the site or app.
- Digital identity services – these include digital identity wallets, which can securely store and share information which proves your age in a digital format.
- Credit card age checks – you provide your credit card details and a payment processor checks if the card is valid. As you must be over 18 to obtain a credit card this shows you are over 18.
- Email-based age estimation – you provide your email address, and technology analyses other online services where it has been used – such as banking or utility providers – to estimate your age.
- Mobile network operator age checks – you give your permission for an age-check service to confirm whether or not your mobile phone number has age filters applied to it. If there are no restrictions, this confirms you are over 18.
- Photo-ID matching – this is similar to a check when you show a document. For example, you upload an image of a document that shows your face and age, and an image of yourself at the same time – these are compared to confirm if the document is yours.
As well as preventing children from accessing harmful content, Ofcom said that these platforms must also ensure that the age verification measures they implement do not exclude adults from accessing legal content or compromise their privacy.
It said that all age assurance methods are subject to the requirements of UK privacy laws, and online pornography services are required to keep written records explaining how they protect users from a breach of these laws.
“Society has long protected youngsters from products that aren’t suitable for them, from alcohol to smoking or gambling. But for too long children have been only a click away from harmful pornography online,” said Ofcom Group Director of Online Safety Oliver Griffiths.
“Now, change is happening. These age checks will bring pornography into line with how we treat adult services in the real world, without compromising access and privacy for over-18s.”
