LONDON — U.K. communications regulator Ofcom has fined OnlyFans parent company Fenix International Ltd. $1.36 million for inaccurate reporting of its age verification measures.
In June of 2022 and June of 2023, Ofcom requested information on OnlyFans' age verification implementation, including the effectiveness of OnlyFans’ third-party facial estimation technology.
According to the regulator, Fenix reported that it had set a "challenge age" for its facial age estimation technology at 23 years old.
"On 4 January 2024, Fenix learned from its technology provider that the challenge age for OnlyFans was in fact set at 20 years old, not 23 years old," Ofcom says. "Fenix later confirmed it had been set to 20 since 1 November 2021. After learning this, Fenix elected to raise the challenge age to 23 on 16 January 2025, but then changed it again to 21 years old on 19 January 2025. Fenix only first informed Ofcom about the error on 22 January 2024."
Ofcom launched an investigation in May of last year, which concluded that Fenix had in fact "contravened its duties to provide accurate and complete information to Ofcom."
Ofcom Enforcement Director Suzanne Cater elaborated on the penalty.
"When we use our statutory powers to request information from platforms, they are required, by law, to ensure it is complete, accurate and delivered to us on time," she said. "Receiving accurate and complete information is fundamental for Ofcom to do its job as a regulator and to understand and monitor how platforms are operating. We will hold platforms to high standards and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where we find failings."
A statement from OnlyFans said that the company recognizes the importance of providing accurate information to the regulator.
"We welcome the conclusion of this process and Ofcom's previous decision to close their investigation into our age assurance measures," the statement reads.
To read the full investigative decision, click here.
