Age Verification
France, Germany, U.K. Move Toward Segregating Adult Content Behind 'Soft Paywall'
The French government has given another ultimatum to five adult websites to implement age verification measures by today, or face being completely blocked in the entire country.
UK Parliamentary Committee Endorses Restrictive 'Online Safety' Bill
A U.K. parliamentary committee published earlier this week a report on the draft of a restrictive Online Safety Bill being actively promoted by Boris Johnson’s government, several Labor MPs and virtually all the U.K. press.
French Regulator Threatens to Block Top 5 Tube Sites Over Age Verification
Top adult tube sites in France were summoned Monday by the country’s Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, a regulatory government body similar to the American FCC, and ordered to “prevent minors from accessing their content before the end of the year” under penalty of being deplatformed by internet service providers.
French Press Uncover Government Plan to Mandate Age Verification
Anonymous sources have leaked the alleged plans of France’s Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, a regulatory government body similar to the American FCC, to compel adult sites “before the end of the year” to immediately implement a form of age verification under penalty of being deplatformed by internet service providers.
The Guardian's Latest Anti-Porn Report Neglects to ID Religious Activist
The Guardian today again published a supposed news article advocating requiring age verification for viewing adult content — but which was, in fact, content sponsored by a shadowy U.S. foundation that pays the Anglo-American newspaper to further its purported mission to combat human trafficking.
U.K. Government Ready to Move Forward With Controversial Age Verification Scheme
The conservative U.K. government led by Boris Johnson has signaled to establishment newspaper The Times that it is ready to revive an age verification scheme for online adult content — a plan previously shelved in favor of the pending Online Safety Bill.
UK High Court Allows London Clergyman's Campaign for Age Verification Review
Following a religiously inspired campaign by a London clergyman, the High Court in the U.K. has opened the way for a legal challenge to the government’s 2019 decision to suspend the implementation of an age verification scheme for “pornography sites.”
French Court Rejects Lawsuit Aiming to Block Top Porn Sites
A French court rejected today a suit brought by two French “child protection” nonprofits demanding that the country's main internet service providers totally block several top adult sites, which the nonprofits claim are “too accessible to minors.”
UK-Based Online Video Platforms Threatened With Fines Over 'Harmful' Content
U.K. media regulator Ofcom — currently led by conservative Boris Johnson appointee Melanie Dawes — today issued “new guidance" for video-sharing platform providers regarding what the government considers “measures to protect users from harmful material.”
France: Nonprofits Sue ISPs, Demand 'Block' of Adult Sites
Two French nonprofits claiming to advocate for child protection are suing the main internet service providers in France, demanding total blocking of several adult sites that they consider “too accessible to minors.”
Australia Asks Stakeholders to Weigh In on Age Verification
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant this week began the consultation process on an age verification scheme for adult content, recommended in February 2020 by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs.
Boris Johnson Appointee Blames 'Porn' for Sexual Harassment in U.K. Schools
Several government watchdog organizations and officials in the U.K., including England’s new “Children’s Commissioner,” are currently conducting a campaign to address reports of an “epidemic of sexual harassment” in public and private schools, with much of the blame placed on online porn.
Canada: Concerns Raised About Proposed Age Verification Legislation
Canada’s federal privacy commissioner warned that a proposed age verification bill for adult content could increase the risk of revealing users’ private browsing habits.
BBC News' Latest Anti-Porn Report Fails to ID Religious Sources
BBC News published yesterday a tendentious report advocating government censorship of adult material by cherrypicking a variety of questionable sources.
VerifyMyAge Offers AV Solution to French Adult Market
VerifyMyAge (VMA) has announced an age verification solution for the French market following the recent announcement by the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) demanding that all French adult sites immediately implement age verification.
Jacquie & Michel Group Responds to France's New AV Requirements
Following France’s adoption of a controversial mandatory age verification (AV) system for adult websites, popular French content providers Jacquie et Michel Group have continued developing My18Pass, an OpenID-based solution to comply with the new requirements.
French Regulators Pressure 7 Top Adult Sites to Implement Age Verification
The seven top adult websites in France are being actively pressured by the country’s media regulatory agency, the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA), to develop their own age verification systems under threat of closure.
Australia: Digital Rights Advocates Rally Against Proposed 'Online Safety Act'
Australian privacy and digital rights advocates have expressed mounting concern over the nation’s proposed Online Safety Act, one of the most extreme versions of current attempts worldwide to revise internet regulation and increase the power of the State over online speech and activities.
France: XVideos Launches Survey Challenging AV Requirement
Months after the French Parliament passed an Age Verification (AV) requirement for online adult content, the site Pornbiz.com — owned by the tubesite XVideos, a WGCZ company — began circulating a survey gathering public opinion about privacy concerns surrounding the requirement and its implementation.
FSC: What the Latest 2257 Ruling Means to You
The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has issued an explainer for this week's 2257 record-keeping ruling by the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals.