The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has initiated an investigation into Pornhub, one of the most frequently visited adult entertainment websites globally, amid fears that children may still be able to access its content.
According to Ofcom, the platform’s current age-checking measures may not qualify as “highly effective,” a threshold explicitly required under the Online Safety Act. The regulator warns that this potential deficiency could constitute a breach of online safety laws designed to shield minors from sexually explicit material.
The inquiry focuses on whether the site has implemented robust enough safeguards to prevent users under the age of 18 from viewing prohibited content, reinforcing the government’s strict enforcement of digital safety standards.
But how effective are mandatory age checks? Many privacy advocates worry this just pushes kids to less regulated sites.
Finally holding platforms accountable. If the law demands high effectiveness, they need to prove it, period.