UK Government to Introduce Age Verification Laws For Adult Websites

To restrict minors’ access to adult-oriented content, the UK government is working on imposing age verification laws on adult websites.

On 29 Nov 2021, Dame Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner, recommended mandating age verification regulations on all adult websites to the UK government. 

The move resulted from studies indicating that 50% of children aged 11-13, 66% of children aged 14-15, and 80% of children aged 16-17 have access to online adult content. Ministries are now preparing to impose regulations on online adult content to prevent children from gaining access. 

In the meeting, Dame Rachel de Souza said that  adult content providers were “willing to introduce age-verification measures as long as they were imposed industry-wide.” 

In 2017, plans to introduce age verification regulations on adult content were shelved, but now it is being looked into. The culture and education secretary, Nadine Dorries and Nadhim Zahawi, have approved to impose regulations respectively. 

We must do more to protect children on line. That’s why I’m supporting action to keep the underage off social media and for the tech companies to keep harmful material off their sites. https://t.co/lMq2cIthRv

— Dame Rachel de Souza (@Rachel_deSouza) November 28, 2021

The regulation in 2017 was introduced by Theresa May in the Digital Economy Act, which states that “adult content creators must have robust age verification controls in place to prevent children and youngsters under 18 from accessing the adult material.”

The regulation was shelved “because privacy activities raised concerns about adult content getting too much information that could possibly be leaked.” 

However,  the children’s commissioner says that there are age verification solutions/services that do not compromise the individual’s privacy. “Technology is so much better now, and the privacy issues are no longer concern as third parties can perform age verification and can get rid of the data straight away.” 

On the other hand, a UK parliamentarian has proposed social media platforms to verify their users in the upcoming Online Safety Bill. The UK government has provided numerous justifications regarding online anonymity hindering terrorism and child abuse investigations. 

Suggested Read: The UK “Children’s Code” – Laying New Grounds for Age Verification