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UK's Online Safety Act results in millions of new age checks
The UK sees an additional five million daily age verification checks for pornography since the new law took effect.
UK's Online Safety Act leads to a sharp rise in age verification checks for adult content.
Online safety law drives 5 million new age checks daily in the UK
In the UK, the introduction of the Online Safety Act has resulted in an additional five million age checks each day for accessing pornography sites. The Age Verification Providers Association reported this surge following the mandatory age verification requirements that took effect recently. Iain Corby, executive director of the AVPA, emphasized the significant rise in age checks as users aim to navigate age-restricted content. Concurrently, there has been a notable increase in the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow users to bypass geographic restrictions. This shift has seen VPN apps dominate the top of the Apple download charts, with one provider witnessing an 1,800% increase in downloads. The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, is set to enforce compliance with age-checking standards and may investigate platforms that do not adhere to these rules.
Key Takeaways
"As a result of new codes under the Online Safety Act coming into force, we have seen an additional 5m age checks on a daily basis."
Iain Corby explains the substantial rise in age checks since the implementation of the new law.
"Until now, kids could easily stumble across porn and other online content that’s harmful to them without even looking for it."
An Ofcom spokesperson discusses the past risks children faced without age checks.
"Companies that fall short should expect to face enforcement action."
Ofcom emphasizes compliance consequences for non-compliant platforms related to age verification.
"Free speech campaigners say the child-harm content restrictions have led to material unnecessarily being age-gated."
Concerns arise regarding the potential overreach of the Online Safety Act.
The rapid increase in age verification checks reveals a shift in how online content is regulated in the UK. While the intention behind the Online Safety Act is to protect children from harmful material, the subsequent uptick in VPN usage suggests that users are actively seeking ways around the new restrictions. This could highlight a significant tension between regulation and personal freedom online. Additionally, the effectiveness of the age verification methods being implemented remains to be seen, raising questions about user privacy and access to content. Overall, this scenario emphasizes the balancing act between ensuring safety for minors and maintaining an open online environment for adults.
Highlights
- The UK now sees five million age checks daily due to the new online safety law.
- VPN downloads surged by 1,800% as users seek unrestricted access.
- Ofcom is serious about compliance with the new age verification requirements.
- Protecting kids online shouldn't mean restricting adults' freedoms.
Concerns about compliance and user rights under the Online Safety Act
The introduction of mandatory age verification raises risks around privacy and suppression of legitimate content. Users turning to VPNs to bypass restrictions suggests a tension between safety regulations and personal freedom.
The ongoing challenge will be finding a balance between safety and freedom in the digital realm.
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