A recent survey has revealed that nearly half of adult pornography users have accessed sites without age verification since new regulations were implemented in July 2023. The poll, conducted by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF), indicates that **45%** of **1,469** respondents reported visiting websites lacking age checks to avoid providing personal information. The charity warns that this trend could lead individuals to riskier platforms, potentially exposing them to harmful and illegal content.
Dr. Alexandra Bailey, head of psychology at LFF and an associate professor at the University of Roehampton, emphasized the importance of age verification. She stated, “Age verification is vital to protect children, and we fully support it. But we also need to recognize that some adults are choosing riskier sites to avoid age checks. These sites can expose people to harmful material, including illegal content depicting child sexual abuse.”
The survey further uncovered that **29%** of pornography users utilized a VPN to bypass age verification protocols. This research was commissioned by LFF and involved a larger sample size of **3,724** adults in November 2023. Among those who admitted to visiting unregulated pornographic sites, **39%** reported encountering content that made them uncomfortable, and **40%** expressed a reluctance to revisit those sites.
Authorities Highlight Need for Better Online Safety Measures
Assistant Chief Constable Becky Riggs, who leads child protection efforts for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, addressed the growing issue of online child sexual abuse. She remarked, “While I wholeheartedly believe that online child sexual abuse is preventable, not inevitable, it’s an issue that continues to grow in prevalence and severity year on year. Protecting children from harm is a responsibility we all share.”
Riggs praised the age verification measures introduced by the Online Safety Act but stressed that technology companies need to take stronger action to enhance safety on their platforms. She encouraged individuals worried about their online behavior to seek help through LFF’s resources.
The Online Safety Act mandates that websites allowing access to pornography implement robust age verification processes to protect minors from harmful content. In December 2023, AVS Group, which operates **18** adult websites, was fined **£1 million** by the regulator Ofcom for inadequate age checks, along with a **£50,000** penalty for failing to respond to information requests.
Calls for Stronger Enforcement and Legislation
Kerry Smith, chief executive of the Internet Watch Foundation, expressed concern over the lack of compliance with the Online Safety Act. She stated, “Platforms need to do all they can to comply with the Online Safety Act, and it is highly concerning that age verification measures are not being implemented on certain platforms.”
Smith highlighted that safeguards on pornographic sites are crucial to prevent children from accessing content that could normalize harmful behaviors and expose them to grooming by predators. She advocated for stricter enforcement of the Online Safety Act and more comprehensive legislation to ensure online pornography is regulated similarly to offline content.
An Ofcom spokesperson affirmed that progress is being made in enhancing online safety, stating, “Change is happening, and the tide on online safety is beginning to turn for the better. Last year saw important changes for people, with new measures across many sites and apps now better protecting UK users from harmful content, particularly children.” The spokesperson also called for tech companies to improve their safety measures in the coming year, warning that Ofcom would use its full powers against those who fail to comply.
The findings from the LFF survey highlight significant concerns regarding online safety and the challenges posed by the current regulatory landscape. As technology evolves, the importance of robust age verification and protective measures remains paramount in safeguarding vulnerable populations, particularly children.
