A porn operator has been hit with a record fine for failing to prevent under-18s from accessing harmful online content.
Ofcom fined the US-based 8579 LLC £1.35m for not having “highly effective” age checks in place. The UK media regulator levied a further fine of £50,000 for ignoring requests to provide a list of its websites.
In February, Pornhub — the UK’s largest porn website — blocked access to new users rather than complying with age-verification rules.
Penalties
Ofcom launched an investigation last year into the providers of dozens of porn sites, including 8579 LLC. It subsequently ruled that 8579 LLC had failed to comply with the age check requirements set out in the Online Safety Act 2023.
Ofcom warned the operator that it “must immediately implement highly effective age assurance or face a daily penalty of £1,000”. It also imposed “a daily penalty of £250 on the company until it responds, or for 60 days, whichever is sooner”, to comply with its duty to provide Ofcom with accurate information requested under the Act.
George Lusty, Director of Enforcement at Ofcom, said: “We’ve been clear that adult sites must deploy robust age checks to protect children in the UK from seeing porn. Those that fail to do this – or ignore legally binding requests from us – should expect to face fines.”
VPNs
When age verification rules came into place, downloads for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which allow users to circumvent location rules, skyrocketed.
Dr Chelsea Jarvie, a cyber security expert, explained: “Virtual Private Networks continue to offer a workaround which is why protecting children online requires layered controls rather than reliance on any single measure”.
Peers have now voted to add an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would ban VPNs for under-18s.
AI ‘nudification’ apps to be made illegal in move to protect children online