Ofcom are collaborating with websites containing pornographic content to introduce proper age checks, in light of concerning statistics.
Online pornography must now be protected by thorough age checks, under the Online Safety Act passed earlier this year. This could include photo ID checks, AI-based facial age estimation and credit card checks.
“Pornography is too readily accessible to children online, and the new online safety laws are clear that must change,” said Ofcom CEO Dame Melanie Dawes.
According to a report by the Children’s Commissioner, the average age for children to come across online pornography is 13. Within this, 10% came across it as early as 9.
“We’re clear that weaker methods – such as allowing users to self-declare their age – won’t meet this standard,” she continued.
The latter approach, among similar ones like warnings and disclaimers, are by far the most common form of ‘age verification’ on pornographic websites currently.
Stronger measures have already been introduced by TapNet Ltd. for their adult online video service, RevealMe. This works by submitting a valid ID to an external age verification tool, or by making a credit card payment.
In the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Dame Rachel de Souza emphasises the excessively violent nature of online pornography. “[It] is not equivalent to a ‘top-shelf’ magazine. The adult content which parents may have accessed in their youth could be considered quaint in comparison to today’s world of online pornography. Depictions of degradation, sexual coercion, aggression and exploitation are commonplace, and disproportionately targeted against teenage girls.”
“I truly believe that we will look back in 20 years and be shocked by the content to which children were exposed,” she said.