The regulator will check that 34 porn platforms effectively verify the age of users

OfCom, the British media and telecommunications market regulator, initiated an investigation towards 34 pornographic platforms to see if they use sufficiently effective methods of age verification. According to research, 8 percent Children from the age of 8 to 14 regularly visit pornographic pages.

The investigation covered four companies (8579 LLC, AVS Group Ltd, Kick Online Entertainment SA and Trendio Ltd.), which together are the owners of 34 pornographic pages, including www.crazyporn.xxx and www.bdsm.one.

These companies were selected by the regulator based on the number of users and the risk assessment of damage they can cause. In total, 9 million users visit these pages every month in Great Britain.

This is the first investigation as part of new regulations that impose on pornographic pages the obligation to use “very effective” age verification methods to prevent children from accessing harmful content.

“In Great Britain, people are used to showing age proof in the offline world to buy products covered by age limitations, such as alcohol or tobacco. Checking age when accessing online pornography works on the same principle. This will help stop children from contact with pornography on the Internet – just as a child should not be able to enter the store and buy a pornographic DVD or magazine” Ofcom.

In practice, this means that the user will not gain access to content if he does not confirm his age by means of verification, which will be “technically precise, solid, reliable and honest.” The regulator specifies that effective methods include, among others face recognition, confirmation of banking data or submission of an identity document.

The initiation of the investigation began the process of collecting and analyzing evidence. If the violations are found, ofcom will issue preliminary notifications and companies will be able to refer to the arrangements. In the event of confirmation of deficiencies, the regulator may impose repair, financial penalties (up to 18 million pounds or 10 % of global revenues – depending on which amount is higher), and in the most serious cases – apply to the court for blocking services or access to a party in Great Britain.

According to of the children, children had “too easy” access to harmful content, including pornography. Studies carried out on behalf of the regulator showed that 8 percent During the month, children aged 8–14 in Great Britain visited the website or pornographic application – including about 3 percent. children aged 8–9. Most often, boys aged 13-14 had pornography – much more often than girls of the same age.

Discussions about the access of children to adult content are also currently underway in the European Union, where the issue of age verification is regulated by the EU act on digital services. It imposes an obligation to protect juvenile against harmful content for users in the EU, however, determining the “digital adult” is the responsibility of individual Member States. (PAP)

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