No porn for you, UK: Online Safety Act now requires age and ID checks on all adult sites

[midian182]

What just happened? Accessing adult material online in the UK changed dramatically today. The Online Safety Act's enforcement has expanded, introducing a broad range of rules that includes mandatory effective age-checking systems for pornography websites, which usually means handing over selfies or government IDs.

The rules, designed to protect children from exposure to harmful content online, require sites that publish or display pornographic content to have rigorous age-verification systems in place. The usual "tick this box to confirm you're over 18" will no longer be sufficient.

UK communications regulator Ofcom requires these sites to offer facial age estimation, via photo or video; age checks that can be confirmed by a credit card provider, bank, or phone operator; photo ID matching, which compares government IDs such as passports against selfies; or digital identity wallets that contain proof of age.

Accessing popular porn platform Pornhub from a UK IP address shows an age checking prompt. Another site, Xhamster, asks for users to create an account before access can be granted. OnlyFans already uses age verification software.

It's not just porn sites that are affected. Social media platforms could also be required to use "highly effective" age checks to identify under-18 users. Those that do not will need to ensure there is a "child appropriate" section on the site. X has already said it will default to sensitive content settings if it cannot confirm a user is 18 or over.

"Maybe if I squint, I could make out those blurred images"

Reddit has already took action to ensure it abides by the rules. The site introduced age verification in the UK for certain mature content on the platform last week. It has partnered with a third-party provider, Persona, which performs the verification through either an uploaded selfie or photo of a government ID.

Ofcom has the power to impose fines of up to £18 million ($24.1 million) or 10% of worldwide revenue on companies that refuse to comply. Senior managers at these firms could also be criminally liable if they repeatedly ignore the rules and may face up to two years in jail.

Some smaller sites are expected to ignore the rules over fear that they will lose too many visitors who are unwilling to hand over any personal details – there are also the added costs to consider. Others, like alternative video hosting platform BitChute, are discontinuing their services for UK residents.

Despite promises that third-party age-verification companies will not retain users' data or be able to see the pages they visit, many people are unwilling to take the risk that their hentai foot fetish (for example) will be exposed.

The obvious workaround for UK residents wary of privacy breaches is to use a VPN with international servers, such as NordVPN. Expect to see a sudden spike in downloads of these programs in the country.

Permalink to story:

No porn for you, UK: Online Safety Act now requires age and ID checks on all adult sites

 

[Megalomaniac]

I have the utmost respect for China for blocking Onlyfans, UK for protecting children from pornography and every other country that does their best to ensure that their people have little or no access to the society ruining elements of the internet.

MEANWHILE IN AMERICA, our children are at risk because the government is so corrupted by shadow money they refuse to do anything. We're busy arguing right now over justice for powerful leaders caught in a child exploitation scandal of the century.

If adults want access to porn - that's fine. Use your credit card for authentification. No one else should have access to it.

 

[unoficialoficial]

Civitai has already banned them, and when Hugging Face does the same (with all the VPNs), it will be too late. The whole internet traffic will go through the UK but won't land there.

 

[yannus]

I have the utmost respect for China for blocking Onlyfans, UK for protecting children from pornography and every other country that does their best to ensure that their people have little or no access to the society ruining elements of the internet.

Like everything they do, the purpose is more in the long term : global surveillance. Porn is just a pretext and the real targets are adults not kids. They won't stop until each byte that is sent or receive on the Internet is biometrically identified.

 

[Thatsdisgusting]

Lol, fap repressions

Fapressions.

 

[dangh]

I have the utmost respect for China for blocking Onlyfans, UK for protecting children from pornography and every other country that does their best to ensure that their people have little or no access to the society ruining elements of the internet.

MEANWHILE IN AMERICA, our children are at risk because the government is so corrupted by shadow money they refuse to do anything. We're busy arguing right now over justice for powerful leaders caught in a child exploitation scandal of the century.

If adults want access to porn - that's fine. Use your credit card for authentification. No one else should have access to it.

First of all, China didn't block only fans because of nudity. They blocked it as part of western media in general. And there are internal sites in China which are functionally same as only fans.
In addition, far east nations are much less spooked by nudity than puritans in us or uk. What's weird, because US sells everything by nudity or sex. I guess it's fine if it's business...

China as well prohibits guns, freedom, and opinion if differs from government opinion. If you want to take one, take it all

Now, I'm in general am happy to see any actions reducing exposure to explicit content for underage kids. But I don't see other post of equation: will parents be fined if they allow kids browsing those sites? Are information confidential or in next elections we will see news about certain people being registered on those sites? What about vpn or tor? How much freedom do we have to surrender so the gov can still pretend they care so failures of parents who do not care what they kids do, could care even less? And will gov as a proper sexual and psychological education so kids can understand better what danger there is and can take right (who will define the right....) decisions and have knowledge to deal with it?

Seeing teens in average uk/irish town at evenings I have much more things to worry, than what they watch at nights. Lack of education and parental care won't be fixed by just a single approach.

 

[Megalomaniac]

First of all, China didn't block only fans because of nudity. They blocked it as part of western media in general. And there are internal sites in China which are functionally same as only fans.
In addition, far east nations are much less spooked by nudity than puritans in us or uk. What's weird, because US sells everything by nudity or sex. I guess it's fine if it's business...

China as well prohibits guns, freedom, and opinion if differs from government opinion. If you want to take one, take it all

Now, I'm in general am happy to see any actions reducing exposure to explicit content for underage kids. But I don't see other post of equation: will parents be fined if they allow kids browsing those sites? Are information confidential or in next elections we will see news about certain people being registered on those sites? What about vpn or tor? How much freedom do we have to surrender so the gov can still pretend they care so failures of parents who do not care what they kids do, could care even less? And will gov as a proper sexual and psychological education so kids can understand better what danger there is and can take right (who will define the right....) decisions and have knowledge to deal with it?

Seeing teens in average uk/irish town at evenings I have much more things to worry, than what they watch at nights. Lack of education and parental care won't be fixed by just a single approach.

I stand by what I said.

100%.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

And just like that, the UK has enforced digital ID just like China has. The door has been left open. Would bet my entire salary that within a decade doing anything online in the UK is gonna require said digital ID.

But remember, 1984 tier digital surveillance could never happen in the freedom loving west!

This is what happens when you keep voting for two powers who don't care about you and have no means of holding them accountable.

I have the utmost respect for China for blocking Onlyfans, UK for protecting children from pornography and every other country that does their best to ensure that their people have little or no access to the society ruining elements of the internet.

MEANWHILE IN AMERICA, our children are at risk because the government is so corrupted by shadow money they refuse to do anything. We're busy arguing right now over justice for powerful leaders caught in a child exploitation scandal of the century.

If adults want access to porn - that's fine. Use your credit card for authentification. No one else should have access to it.

China restrict sall your freedoms and privileges. Rights do not exist there. We don't typically want that in the west, thank you very much.

 

[GeoffreyA]

I don't think this will make a difference in the long run. Youth will bypass these restrictions or exchange videos on flash drives. In essence, it will go back to the old methods of accessing pornography. There will be a youngster in the class who's got the big collection, copying it for others.

I think that education is one way to fight pornography. Whether it works is a different story. Sex being swept under the carpet doesn't help. Boys and girls should learn that sexuality in a proper relationship or marriage is a far cry from the often inhuman images they'll see in today's adult material; the body image and performance are false too. Perhaps being more permissive about sensual, erotic, "soft" material, even in mainstream cinema, would help fight the badness of the fully-fledged stuff.

 

[stewi0001]

I stand by what I said.

100%.

So you are ok with pedophiles having sex with the underage. Got it, thanks.

 

[wiak]

1.1.1.1

 

[VitalyT]

Today you can buy drugs almost on any corner in UK, and they won't ask for your id. I'm more concerned about that.

 

[Megalomaniac]

And just like that, the UK has enforced digital ID just like China has. The door has been left open. Would bet my entire salary that within a decade doing anything online in the UK is gonna require said digital ID.

But remember, 1984 tier digital surveillance could never happen in the freedom loving west!

This is what happens when you keep voting for two powers who don't care about you and have no means of holding them accountable.
China restrict sall your freedoms and privileges. Rights do not exist there. We don't typically want that in the west, thank you very much.

I stand by what I said 100%

 

[lonetac]

China as well prohibits guns, freedom, and opinion if differs from government opinion. If you want to take one, take it all

Not much different than the current US administration. Say something negative and you will have your citizenship threatened and to be deported.

Look how many US citizens have had their "freedom" violated recently because of the roundup of anyone brown regardless of citizenship or legality.

FFS, did everyone forget about Snowden?

People think China is so much worse than the USA, we only do a better job of brainwashing and giving the illusion of freedom.

 

[m3diapers]

I have the utmost respect for China for blocking Onlyfans, UK for protecting children from pornography and every other country that does their best to ensure that their people have little or no access to the society ruining elements of the internet.

MEANWHILE IN AMERICA, our children are at risk because the government is so corrupted by shadow money they refuse to do anything. We're busy arguing right now over justice for powerful leaders caught in a child exploitation scandal of the century.

If adults want access to porn - that's fine. Use your credit card for authentification. No one else should have access to it.

onlyfans is not blocked in China. LOL

 

[m3diapers]

Very islamic

 

[redgarl]

Seems like everyone in UK will now use a VPN...

 

[Kotters]

That MGS shitpost about AI is coming true.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

I have the utmost respect for China for blocking Onlyfans, UK for protecting children from pornography and every other country that does their best to ensure that their people have little or no access to the society ruining elements of the internet.

MEANWHILE IN AMERICA, our children are at risk because the government is so corrupted by shadow money they refuse to do anything. We're busy arguing right now over justice for powerful leaders caught in a child exploitation scandal of the century.

If adults want access to porn - that's fine. Use your credit card for authentification. No one else should have access to it.

I agree with the IDEA of restricting porn to 18+.

However, the RESULTS of this law won't accomplish that. Sure some well know sites will comply and kids will find other sites. (Remember prohibition? Did not stop people from drinking.)

So you are trading many people's liberty for the illusion of safety, which I am against.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

The very people that cry freedom are the first to embrace big brother under the pretext of "but the children".

 

[maxxcool7421]

I have the utmost respect for China for blocking Onlyfans, UK for protecting children from pornography and every other country that does their best to ensure that their people have little or no access to the society ruining elements of the internet.

MEANWHILE IN AMERICA, our children are at risk because the government is so corrupted by shadow money they refuse to do anything. We're busy arguing right now over justice for powerful leaders caught in a child exploitation scandal of the century.

If adults want access to porn - that's fine. Use your credit card for authentification. No one else should have access to it.

Yup republiKans serving kids up like icecream

 

[Squid Surprise]

Love the Puritan values… it’s ok to watch someone kill dozens of people… but God forbid you expose a nipple…

 

[OortCloud]

I have the utmost respect for China for blocking Onlyfans, UK for protecting children from pornography and every other country that does their best to ensure that their people have little or no access to the society ruining elements of the internet.

MEANWHILE IN AMERICA, our children are at risk because the government is so corrupted by shadow money they refuse to do anything. We're busy arguing right now over justice for powerful leaders caught in a child exploitation scandal of the century.

If adults want access to porn - that's fine. Use your credit card for authentification. No one else should have access to it.

The US cares about nothing but money these days.

 

[Win7user]

V P N

 

[GeoffreyA]

Not much different than the current US administration. Say something negative and you will have your citizenship threatened and to be deported.

Look how many US citizens have had their "freedom" violated recently because of the roundup of anyone brown regardless of citizenship or legality.

FFS, did everyone forget about Snowden?

People think China is so much worse than the USA, we only do a better job of brainwashing and giving the illusion of freedom.

It's a grumpier Wallace Breen and the Combine in action. Not that their competitors are any better.

Love the Puritan values… it’s ok to watch someone kill dozens of people… but God forbid you expose a nipple…

Sadly, violence is mainstream in cinema, but nudity and sex are frowned upon.