Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has launched an investigation into 34 pornography websites for failing to implement new age verification checks. The action is part of the new Online Safety Act, which came into force last week, and is aimed at protecting children from accessing adult content.
The investigation focuses on four companies 8579 LLC, AVS Group Ltd, Kick Online Entertainment S.A., and Trendio Ltd that operate these sites and collectively attract more than nine million unique visitors from the UK each month. Ofcom has prioritised these particular companies due to the significant number of UK users they serve and the potential for harm.
This new probe adds to 11 other ongoing inquiries by the regulator. Under the new law, Ofcom has been granted powers to impose substantial penalties on companies that fail to comply. Fines can reach up to £18 million, or 10% of a company’s global revenue, whichever is greater.
In the most serious cases, the regulator can also seek a court order to take further measures, including blocking UK access to the sites or requiring advertisers and payment providers to withdraw their services. While a petition to repeal the Online Safety Act has gathered over 450,000 signatures, the government has confirmed it has no plans to reverse the legislation.
