Smaller adult video-sharing sites based in the UK are not doing enough to protect children from accessing pornography, Ofcom has said. In a new report, the regulator said a number of smaller platforms do not have robust measures in place to verify a user’s age and prevent them from gaining access if necessary.
Ofcom said that while they all have age verification systems in place when users sign up to post content, it is possible for children to access adult content simply by self-declaring that they are over 18. But the regulator did praise some larger platforms – including TikTok and Snapchat, for making progress in better protecting younger users.
Ofcom already regulates video-sharing platforms (VSPs) through existing rules but the Government’s proposed Online Safety Bill – expected to return to Parliament before the end of the year – would give it expanded powers as a regulator of user-generated content platforms. It warned that adult sites that do not improve their protection systems will face stronger enforcement action.
