Ofcom investigates 34 porn sites over age checks

Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has launched investigations into four companies that operate a total of 34 adult websites, to determine if they are following new rules about age verification. These rules are part of a larger effort to protect children from accidentally seeing pornography or other harmful content online. Ofcom announced that over 6,000 websites offering adult material are now required to use strong tools to check if users are over 18. However, there are concerns that some sites are ignoring these requirements, which is why Ofcom is taking action.

The four companies under investigation are 8579 LLC, AVS Group Ltd, Kick Online Entertainment S. A. , and Trendio Ltd. Together, their websites attract more than nine million visitors each month. Ofcom said these companies were chosen for investigation because their sites pose a high risk of harm and have large numbers of users. This is not the first time Ofcom has looked into online platforms for failing to protect children. Previous investigations have included sites like 4chan and First Time Videos LLC, as well as file-sharing services. Ofcom has stated that more enforcement actions are likely in the coming weeks and months as they continue to monitor compliance with the new rules.

The new age verification requirements came into effect on Friday. Now, people in the UK are being asked to confirm their age on a variety of platforms, including social media sites like Reddit and X. Even music streaming services like Spotify may ask users to prove their age if they want to watch music videos rated for adults. While these rules are meant to protect children, they have sparked some backlash. Over 400,000 people have signed a petition asking the government to repeal the Online Safety Act, which is the law behind these age checks. Critics argue that the rules are too strict and raise privacy concerns, especially since some people can use virtual private networks, or VPNs, to get around the restrictions.

Despite the criticism, the government has said it has no plans to withdraw the law. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle defended the new rules, saying they are not about censoring adults or stopping them from accessing legal content. Instead, he emphasized that the goal is to protect children from harmful material that could cause lasting damage. Ofcom also acknowledged that the new measures are not a perfect solution, but they believe the rules will make the internet safer for children by reducing the chances of them stumbling across adult content. The regulator plans to continue its investigations and make further announcements as it works to enforce the new age verification requirements and keep children safe online.