Starting Friday, the UK Online Safety Act will enforce stringent age verification measures on websites hosting adult content, marking a significant shift in online safety regulations. The legislation, aimed at protecting children from harmful material, mandates that platforms implement "robust" age checks or face fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their global revenue.

Regulatory Measures and Compliance

Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, is spearheading the enforcement of these new rules. The regulator has outlined several methods for age verification, including credit card checks, photo ID matching, and age estimation via selfies. These measures are designed to ensure that children, who make up 8% of visitors to adult sites, are shielded from inappropriate content. Social media giants like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are also required to prevent minors from accessing harmful material, such as content promoting self-harm or eating disorders.

Challenges and Concerns

Despite these efforts, concerns persist about the potential circumvention of age checks through the use of virtual private networks (VPNs). VPNs, which allow users to bypass geographical restrictions, could undermine the effectiveness of the new regulations. Katie Freeman-Tayler from Internet Matters predicts an increase in VPN usage as the rules take effect. Ofcom has warned that platforms must not promote or facilitate VPN use to bypass age checks.

Industry Response and Implementation

In response to the new regulations, companies like Meta and X are adopting advanced age verification technologies. Meta has introduced a multilayered approach, including default teen account settings, while X plans to use age estimation technology and ID checks. Mark Jones, a partner at Payne Hicks Beach, emphasized that it is Ofcom's responsibility to ensure these measures meet the requirements of the Online Safety Act.