UK web users will have to prove they’re 18 or over before being able to access pornographic content, from next year.
The government has announced that by April 2018, adult websites must introduce age verification tools or face heavy fines of up to £250,000.
The plans were set out within last year’s controversial Digital Economy Act and are designed to protect children from accessing the content.
According to a BBC report, the British Board of Film Classification could take on the role of determining which sites require age verification.
Digital minister Matt Hancock said in a written statement to the Commons: “
Naturally, this has led to privacy concerns related to adult sites holding the identity of visitors, with one group claiming it could leave the public vulnerable to hackers.
The Open Rights Group’s Kim Killock told the Independent: “Age verification could lead to porn companies building databases of the UK’s porn habits, which could be vulnerable to Ashley Madison style hacks,
“The Government has repeatedly refused to ensure that there is a legal duty for age verification providers to protect the privacy of web users.”
Would you be willing to hand over credit card details to verify your age? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.