Ofcom Launches Probe into Pornography Websites Over Compliance with New Age Verification Laws

Published: 31 July ‘2025. The English Chronicle Online

The UK’s media regulator, Ofcom, has formally launched investigations into four companies behind a network of 34 pornography websites to determine whether they are complying with new legislation requiring stringent age verification measures for adult content. The move marks a significant step in the enforcement of the Online Safety Act, which came into effect just last week, aiming to ensure that minors are prevented from accessing explicit material online.

Under the new legal framework, all websites that host adult content must implement systems that can reliably verify a user’s age, proving they are 18 or older. Ofcom’s action is a response to growing concern about the availability of pornographic material to children and the responsibility of digital platforms to safeguard young users. The companies currently under investigation — 8579 LLC, AVS Group Ltd, Kick Online Entertainment S.A., and Trendio Ltd — operate websites with a combined monthly UK audience of over nine million unique visitors, according to Ofcom’s data.

Ofcom stated that these four entities were selected based on the scale of their user base and the potential risk of harm posed by their platforms. The inquiry will determine whether the age verification tools in use meet the robust standards laid out in the new regulations. Should the sites be found non-compliant, they could face severe penalties, including fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their global turnover — whichever is higher.

Beyond monetary fines, Ofcom retains the authority to impose even more severe sanctions. These include seeking court orders to disrupt business operations by compelling payment processors and advertisers to withdraw services from offending platforms. In extreme cases, internet service providers may be ordered to block access to the sites within the UK entirely.

This development comes in the context of broader enforcement activity. Ofcom has already initiated 11 other investigations into platforms and services suspected of breaching online safety requirements. These include the controversial forum 4chan, an anonymous online suicide discussion board, several file-sharing services, and two other adult websites. It has signalled that more enforcement announcements are likely in the near future as the new regime takes hold.

Despite the intended protective measures, public backlash against the legislation is already mounting. Within just five days of enforcement, a petition calling for the repeal of the Online Safety Act has attracted over 450,000 signatures. Critics argue that the law represents an overreach by the government, potentially threatening personal freedoms and censoring lawful expression. Adult content creators, in particular, have accused the government of stifling digital free speech and disproportionately targeting their industry.

In response to these criticisms, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to the legislation, firmly stating that it has “no plans to repeal the Online Safety Act.” Officials insist the law is essential to building a safer internet environment, especially for children and other vulnerable groups. The Act, they argue, does not aim to suppress legal content but to ensure accountability and protective safeguards in the digital space.

Ofcom, newly empowered by the Online Safety Act, is now under close scrutiny as it begins to test the practical implications of its enforcement tools. The unfolding investigations will likely set the tone for future regulatory action and may redefine how online content — particularly adult material — is managed and accessed in the UK. As these high-profile inquiries progress, both the digital industry and civil liberties campaigners will be watching closely, understanding that the outcomes could shape the balance between safety, privacy, and freedom online for years to come.

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