UK Porn Sites to Implement Effective Age Checks from July Under New Online Safety Laws

Starting 25 July 2025, major pornography websites such as Pornhub and Redtube will introduce stringent age verification measures for UK users in compliance with the new Online Safety Act. The law, enforced by Ofcom, requires sites that host potentially harmful content to use ‘highly effective’ methods to prevent access by individuals under 18. These include credit card authentication, open banking verification, and facial age estimation.

Research by Ofcom revealed that 8% of children aged 8 to 14 accessed pornography sites in one month, with 19% of 13- and 14-year-old boys doing so. The new rules aim to protect children without compromising adult privacy or access to legal content. Platforms will be subject to privacy standards enforced by the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office.

The Internet Watch Foundation supports the move, warning that early exposure to pornography can normalize harmful sexual behaviors and increase vulnerability to grooming. Critics, however, argue that such measures may push young users to the dark web, where content is unregulated and far more dangerous. Legal experts stress that broader enforcement and education are needed, as current efforts may only displace the issue rather than resolve it.

The initiative mirrors similar regulations in France, where some porn sites have already shut down in protest.