UK media regulator Ofcom has launched formal investigations into four companies operating a total of 34 pornography websites, checking whether they comply with new age-verification rules
aimed at protecting children online.
The companies under scrutiny are 8579 LLC, AVS Group Ltd, Kick Online Entertainment S.A., and Trendio Ltd. Ofcom said these firms were prioritized based on the scale of their operations and potential risk to children.
Under the “Online Safety Act”, passed in 2023, websites hosting adult or harmful content must implement robust age checks. Non-compliant platforms face fines of up to £18 million (\$23.8 million) or 10% of global revenue, and can be blocked in the UK.
The current Labour government has defended the law as essential for child safety, arguing it balances security with free speech. In contrast, the right-wing Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, has promised to repeal the act, calling it a threat to civil liberties.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle responded sharply, accusing Farage of aligning with notorious predators by opposing protections meant for children. Photo by XVideos, Wikimedia commons.