Age verification to be enforced by July, says Ofcom

Websites hosting pornographic content in the UK will be required to introduce strict age verification measures by July at the latest, according to Ofcom.

The regulations are part of the Online Safety Act, aimed at safeguarding children from harmful content online.

Ofcom's chief executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, stated, "We’re setting out the steps companies need to take to ensure they’re doing their utmost to protect children from accessing pornography. This includes checking the age of visitors to their sites."

Under the new rules, websites must implement "robust" age verification systems to ensure UK users are 18 or older. The methods could include verifying credit card details, mobile phone data, or other official documents.

Failure to comply may lead to fines of up to £18m or 10% of annual global revenue.

The legislation also empowers Ofcom to block access to non-compliant websites.

Dame Melanie Dawes emphasised, "Pornography is widespread online, and most children now have access to a smartphone by the age of nine. The measures we’re proposing will help shield children from accessing this type of content and avoid putting companies at risk of hefty penalties."

The announcement has sparked debate, with privacy advocates raising concerns about data protection. However, Dame Dawes reassured the public, saying Ofcom is "working to ensure that privacy and security are not compromised."

The move follows years of campaigning by child safety groups for stricter controls on online pornography.

The government hopes the new regulations will mark a significant step towards creating a safer internet for young people.