Ofcom Closes OnlyFans Age-Gating Investigation

Ofcom Closes OnlyFans Age-Gating Investigation

LONDON — U.K. communications regulator Ofcom has discontinued an investigation into whether OnlyFans violated the Online Safety Act (OSA) by failing to prevent minors from viewing adult content.

Ofcom originally announced the investigation in May 2024, stating at the time that it was seeking to determine whether OnlyFans was implementing age assurance measures “in such a way as to protect under 18s from restricted material, including pornographic material.”

The investigation also sought to determine whether the platform had provided “complete and accurate” information in response to requests by the agency, as mandated under the OSA.

This week, Ofcom announced that it has decided to close the investigation into whether OnlyFans had implemented sufficient measures to protect children from restricted material, and into whether OnlyFans parent company Fenix International Limited failed to cooperate fully with Ofcom.

“We are making no findings on these issues and should further information come to light, reserve our right to re-open this investigation,” the agency posted on its website.

A spokesperson for OnlyFans told Reuters, “At all times, OnlyFans’ age assurance was set to at least 20 years old. OnlyFans is, and has always been, confident that these measures are sufficient to meet our obligations to protect under 18s from accessing restricted material.”

The Ofcom announcement notes that an investigation into whether Fenix International Limited provided “complete and accurate responses to statutory information requests” is ongoing.

Issuance of guidelines and enforcement actions under the OSA have been slowly ramping up since the law took effect in 2023. In January, Ofcom fined video sharing platform MintStars 7,000 pounds for “failing to adequately protect children from accessing online pornography.” That site required only a declaration by users that they were over 18, which is insufficient as an age assurance measure under Ofcom's rules.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Op-Ed: The Guardian's XBIZ Amsterdam Podcast Dismisses Creators' Experiences

British newspaper The Guardian’s podcast coverage of XBIZ Amsterdam 2025 purports to investigate the power dynamics of today’s online adult industry. Instead, it ignores creators’ voices, airs tired and outdated preconceptions about the business, and rehashes the unsupported claims of anti-pornography crusaders.

Eva Maxim, BranditScan Launch 'Killer' Promo

Eva Maxim and BranditScan have partnered for the Killer Creator Giveaway promotion.

2026 XBIZ Exec Awards Nominees for Online Industry Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the nominees for the online industry edition of the 2026 XBIZ Exec Awards, set to be presented as part of the annual XBIZ Honors ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 14 in conjunction with the XBIZ 2026 digital media conference.

AEBN Publishes Report on POV Trends

AEBN has published a report on POV and gonzo categories from its straight and gay theaters.

Joybear Pictures to Launch 'I Really Love' Studio Imprint

Joybear Pictures has announced that its new studio imprint, I Really Love, will launch in January.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Life Transitions' Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group on navigating transitional and liminal spaces.

CamSoda Launches 'Trick or Tease' AI Companions

CamSoda has launched its Halloween-themed Trick or Tease AI companions.

Russian Lawmakers Call for Age Verification

Two Russian lawmakers have called on the country’s government to implement age verification for adult content.

British Documentary Spotlights XBIZ Amsterdam With Candid Conversations

British creator and host Josh Pieters traveled to XBIZ Amsterdam to film a documentary about the annual European adult industry conference.

XBIZ 2026 to Debut 'New Talent Go-See' Special Event

XBIZ 2026, North America’s premier adult industry conference, will debut a special event designed to help new talent jump-start their careers: the New Talent Go-See.

Show More