34 porn websites facing scrutiny over new age-check rules

The UK's internet watchdog has launched an investigation into how four companies - that collectively run 34 pornography sites - are complying with new age-check requirements.

Last week, new rules came into force requiring sites that allow adult content to bring in measures to prove that someone using them is over the age of 18.

But Ofcom has now opened formal investigations into whether some providers have put effective age checks in place.

These companies - 8579 LLC, AVS Group Ltd, Kick Online Entertainment S.A. and Trendio Ltd - run dozens of sites, and collectively have more than nine million unique monthly UK visitors, Ofcom said.

Read more: What is the Online Safety Bill?

The regulator said it prioritised the companies based on the risk of harm posed by the services they operated and their user numbers.

It adds to the 11 investigations already in progress into 4chan, as well as an unnamed online suicide forum, seven file-sharing services, and two adult websites.

Ofcom said it expects to make further enforcement announcements in the coming months.

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The regulator can impose fines of up to £18 million, or 10% of worldwide revenue (whichever is greater) if sites are found to have compliance failures.

"Where appropriate, in the most serious cases, we can seek a court order for business disruption measures, such as requiring payment providers or advertisers to withdraw their services from a platform, or requiring internet service providers to block access to a site in the UK," Ofcom said.

Five days since Ofcom's new internet regulations began being enforced, more than 450,000 people have signed a petition asking for them to be repealed.

Adult content creators, meanwhile, have accused the government of censoring social media feeds.

In response to the petition, the government said it had "no plans to repeal the Online Safety Act".