Press release: A Christian charity that spent years campaigning for children to be protected from online porn has welcomed measures soon to become law. The Online Safety Bill has passed its final stage in the House of Lords and is expected to receive Royal Assent next month, after years of debate and delay.

Provisions in the Bill will mandate age checks for all users seeking to access porn on both porn sites and social media platforms. Companies will face stiff penalties if they fail to comply with new rules on harmful content, with state regulator Ofcom responsible for enforcement.

Content targeted in the online safety regime includes material relating to drugs and weapons, revenge porn, self-harm, and suicide. A controversial 'legal but harmful' clause in the bill was dubbed a threat to free speech and removed by the government last year.

CARE supported politicians in pushing Ministers to implement comprehensive age checks. Ross Hendry, CEO of CARE, said:

“These measures follows a long-running campaign by CARE, which drafted amendments and worked with other charities including Barnardo’s and CEASE to have them accepted. For many years now, CARE has been calling for much tougher online safeguards, based on very well-evidenced concerns about the devastating impact of pornography on our children and young people. With the implementation of age checks soon to be achieved, we are within touching distance of a vital reform that will help protect Britain’s children.

“Most younger children encounter pornography online by accident. Robust age verification measures will help prevent the youngest and most vulnerable kids being exposed to content that is disturbing and damaging to them. For older children, the impact of pornography is evident in the alarming rise of sexual harassment in schools. Our societal response to this issue must involve curbing young people’s access to porn. Pornographic sites glorify sexual violence and amplify toxic attitudes towards women and girls.

“It's regrettable that some groups have stood in the way of age checks on pornographic content. Their protestations are based on a supposed right of access to sexually explicit material, without restraint. Such a position lacks empathy for the vulnerable and is logically inconsistent. We require age checks for access to alcohol, tobacco, gambling products, knives, and a host of other materials. It is obvious that a child should not be able to access these things. It’s deeply sad that children have lacked protection for so long.”

Mr Hendry added:

"The Online Safety Bill requires that new measures be enforced within 18 months. Parliament has done its job and all eyes now shift to Ofcom, which will be responsible for implementing the new law. Parents across the UK desire meaningful action to protect their children from vile online content. Children themselves desperately need new protections, given the immense harms associated with pornography. More dither and delay with these measures is simply not an option. We urge fast action."

Backstory

In 2019, the UK Government abandoned plans to introduce age-verification on porn sites, despite legislating for the change in the Digital Economy Act 2017. Part 3 of the Act would have seen regulations laid to make sure anyone wishing to access online porn would require proof they are 18. The scheme was delayed several times, despite evidence children are being exposed to porn at a young age, and that technologies are safe and effective.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

CARE is a social policy charity, bringing Christian insight to the policies and laws that affect our lives. Contact us: press@care.org.uk