Under existing regulations that pre-date the UK’s new Online Safety Act, video-sharing platforms (VSPs) established in the UK are required to take appropriate measures to prevent under-18s from accessing pornographic material.

In response to this VSP regulation, a number of UK-based sites that host adult content – including the largest, OnlyFans – have introduced age verification measures.

However, having reviewed submissions that Ofcom received from OnlyFans in response to formal information requests, the regulatory body states that is has grounds to suspect the platform did not implement its age verification measures in such a way as to sufficiently protect under-18s from pornographic material.

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Ofcom are also investigating whether OnlyFans failed to comply with its duties to provide complete and accurate information in response to these statutory requests.

While the organisation works implement the Online Safety Act – which came into law at the start of the year – they are obligated to continue regulating VSPs that fall within their jurisdiction under the pre-existing regime. The UK Government will decide the date on which the VSP regime will be repealed.