LOS ANGELES — The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) has issued a statement advising adult companies to prepare to comply with the age assurance provisions of the U.K.'s Online Safety Act, which go into effect in 2025.
According to ASACP Executive Director Tim Henning, although such compliance may be burdensome, the potential penalties for failure to comply will be much more problematic.
“I have met with Ofcom on behalf of ASACP and its supporting industry stakeholders to help craft a reasonable approach to online child protection,” Henning said. “While no governmental regulations are perfect, the U.K.'s approach is thoughtful and helps to protect the rights of consumers and creators alike.”
According to a recent update posted by U.K. safety regulator Ofcom, that agency will issue final age assurance guidance in January. Platforms that publish their own adult content, such as paysites, can expect to see those rules enforced beginning around the same time. Sites that host user-generated adult content are on a slightly different timeline — but according to Ofcom, by July 2025, both types of platforms must have “a highly effective age assurance solution in place to protect under-18s.”
Previously, Ofcom consulted with adult industry stakeholders during the process of drafting regulations under the OSA.
“Ofcom should be applauded for considering the industry’s needs and nuances during this process,” added Henning.