What's happened
Ofcom has fined AVS Group Ltd £1 million for failing to implement effective age verification on 18 adult websites, as part of the UK's new online safety rules. The company has 72 hours to improve its age checks or face daily penalties. The move follows earlier fines and reflects increased regulatory focus on protecting minors online.
What's behind the headline?
The enforcement of the UK's Online Safety Act marks a significant shift in digital regulation, emphasizing accountability for online content providers. The fines highlight the regulator's focus on high-traffic adult sites, which pose substantial risks to minors. However, the effectiveness of current age verification technology remains questionable, with critics pointing to ease of bypass and privacy concerns over face recognition uploads. The regulatory push will likely intensify, pressuring platforms to adopt more secure, verifiable methods. This approach could set a precedent for stricter global standards, but also risks alienating users concerned about privacy. The government’s backing signals a firm stance, but the challenge will be balancing safety with civil liberties, especially as enforcement tightens and more companies face penalties.
What the papers say
Sky News reports that AVS, which operates 18 adult websites, was fined £50,000 for non-compliance and has 72 hours to implement effective age verification or face daily fines. The Guardian highlights that this is the third fine under the new law, with concerns over the technology's bypassability and privacy risks. Reuters emphasizes Ofcom's ongoing investigations into dozens of adult sites and social media platforms, noting the law's broader aim to protect vulnerable users while sparking tensions with U.S. tech companies. All sources agree that enforcement is increasing, but debate persists over the balance between safety and privacy.
How we got here
The UK's Online Safety Act, introduced in July 2025, aims to shield children from harmful online content by requiring platforms to implement robust age verification measures. Ofcom has begun investigating major adult sites and social media platforms to ensure compliance, amid concerns over bypass methods and privacy risks associated with face-upload technology.
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The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the United Kingdom.