UK to introduce age verification for adult websites amid privacy concerns

The UK is set to enforce new rules under the Online Safety Act, requiring adult websites to implement robust age verification methods to prevent under-18s from accessing explicit content. This includes techniques such as credit card age checks, digital identity services, and facial recognition, all of which come with varying degrees of privacy concerns. Major adult sites, including Pornhub, have confirmed they will adopt these measures by July 25. Experts caution that while these methods aim to safeguard minors, they raise significant questions about the security and privacy of users’ data. Age verification companies argue that data will not be stored, reducing the risk of hacking. However, cybersecurity experts warn against the growing trend of ‘mass identification’ online. Some of the proposed methods include checking users’ credit cards or mobile networks, while others use facial recognition or even email-based age estimation. The government and regulators are pushing for these measures to better protect children online, but critics worry about the potential for data misuse and loss of personal privacy.