Ofcom urged to act on porn as age verification rules commence

Communications regulator Ofcom must show it “means business” on porn as new age assurance rules are rolled out, CARE has said.

This week, age verification requirements in the Online Safety Act come into force. Commercial porn sites will immediately be required to comply, with all internet porn and social media companies being covered from July.

The controls introduced under the Online Safety Act are aimed at curbing a range of harmful material – particularly content that endangers children. Sites that fail to act will face significant fines and blocking.

Commenting on the rules coming in to force this week, CARE’s online safety lead Tim Cairns said:

“As the new legal framework covering age verification is introduced, Ofcom has the chance to show that it means business.

“We are urging the regulator to take swift and decisive action against commercial porn sites, defined in Part 5 of the Online Safety Act.

“Any website failing to require age verification risks allowing vulnerable children to access disturbing content that parents want them to be protected from.

“Early enforcement action against commercial pornography sites will build confidence that Ofcom is willing to act against major porn sites, which will have to comply from July.

“If Ofcom is slow to act, or unwilling as it has been in the past, this will undermine confidence in the sector. We’d encourage Ofcom to act in good faith.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) is a social policy charity, bringing Christian insight to the policies and laws that affect our lives.

Contact us: press@care.org.uk