UK's Porn Crackdown: 34 Websites Under Scanner Over New Age-Check Rules
Ofcom is investigating 34 porn sites for not complying with the UK's Online Safety Act, requiring age-verification to protect children.
The UK's media watchdog Ofcom launched investigations into 34 pornography websites for failing to comply with new regulations designed to prevent children from accessing harmful online content. The probes- which target four companies that operate the sites- will assess whether these firms have implemented 'highly effective" age-verification measures as required by the new Online Safety Act, which came into force last week.
Ofcom said that it prioritised the investigation of these 34 sites based on their high user numbers and the potential risk of harm they pose. Collectively, the websites are visited by more than nine million people in the UK each month. These new cases are in addition to 11 ongoing investigations by Ofcom into various platforms, including 4chan, an online forum known for its 'incel" culture and the spread of misinformation.
What Is UK's New Online Safety Act?
The legislation is a major step in the UK government's effort to protect children from online material related to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and pornography. The new rules mandate that websites and apps hosting such content must employ robust age-check mechanisms, which can include the use of facial recognition or credit card verification.
The introduction of the Online Safety Act has sparked significant public and political debate. Campaigners have celebrated the new law as a landmark victory after years of advocating for stronger regulations. However, some critics have condemned it as an infringement on free speech.
VPN Usage Surges As Users Seek Workarounds
The new rules have also led to an reported surge in the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) in the UK- which allow users to mask their location, enabling them to bypass regional content restrictions. According to British media, free VPN apps have topped the download charts on Apple's UK App Store since the law's enactment, with one provider Proton reporting an 1,800% increase in downloads.
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July 31, 2025, 18:54 IST
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