Peers seek stronger pornography protections in Online Safety Bill

The UK Government is facing a backbench rebellion from Tories calling for tougher porn protections in the Online Safety Bill.

Former Health Minister Lord Bethell has brought forward amendments to ensure strict measures preventing children accessing sexual content.

The changes would clarity what age verification means and see it ushered in within months of the online safety regime coming into force.

The amendments also seek to create parity between online pornography regulation and standards of regulation in the offline world.

Commenting on the need for age checks to prevent children accessing pornographic content, Lord Bethell said:

“You can’t buy a knife online without saying your age, or cigarettes or alcohol. Age verification is already a tangible thing that’s in existence.

“I don’t see the point of having to go through several years of consultation and rule-drafting and code-drafting and enforcement regime engagement."

Stressing the need for fast action, he added: "I’m also worried that if you do that consultation, everything will be watered down.”

Writing for The Times today another Conservative Peer, Baroness Bertin, also stressed the need for changes relating to porn regulation.

As well as stressing the need for age checks to prevent children stumbling across porn, she called for action against porn sites.

"There is no way of ensuring performers in pornography are over 18. Once videos are uploaded on to porn platforms, only the most extreme and obvious illegal and non-consensual content is easily identified and reported.

"All pornographic sites must be made to ensure that actors prove they are over 18. This can’t be left up to websites and Ofcom; the government must make this legislation robust enough to truly protect children", she added.

CARE is calling for five specific changes to the Online Safety Bill to ensure children and young people are better-protected from porn.

1. A clear definition of pornography as harmful content in the bill.

2. Robust age verification measures to enhance child protections

3. Age checks on porn sites within 6 months of a new law

4. The consent and age of people in porn videos verified by sites

5. Prohibited material dealt with online as it is offline