The United Kingdom has implemented new age verification rules for online adult content, making it one of the strictest countries in the world. Starting Friday, adults accessing pornography will be required to prove their age using identification documents, face scans, or bank details.
The changes are part of the UK’s Online Safety Act, which aims to prevent online harassment and create a safer online environment for children. Social media platforms and dating apps have also pledged to implement age verification checks, with some websites opting for more advanced tools like government-issued ID uploads or video selfies.
However, concerns about user data safety remain, as some platforms may ask users to upload sensitive information. Users will need to carefully review privacy terms and conditions to ensure their personal data is protected.
The new rules also raise questions about loopholes, such as the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) by users outside the UK. It remains unclear how websites plan to prevent exploitation of this potential loophole, leaving some concerns about the effectiveness of the new age verification measures.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/07/25/uk-starts-porn-age-verification-how-do-the-internet-age-checks-work-and-will-users-data-be