Porn ‘ban’: UK block of free adult websites to now start on 15 July The verification system will come into force from 15 July

Checks to verify the age of a web user attempting to access free pornography sites will come into force from July, the government has confirmed.

The age verification legislation has been designed to prevent children from accessing inappropriate material online, and requires providers of porn content to introduce systems to check visitors’ ages.

Once the process is rolled out, visitors to sites such as PornHub and YouPorn will be able to choose from a range of age-verification methods, including supplying traditional ID documents – such as credit cards, passports or driving licences.

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The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has been appointed to ensure sites are complying with the new laws.

Sites which fail to comply risk having their payment services withdrawn, a fine of up to £250,000 or being blocked for UK users entirely, the government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said.

Age-verification providers which meet the BBFC’s standards can opt into the Age-verification Certificate (AVC), a voluntary, non-statutory scheme which allows the provider to display a green ‘AV’ symbol to indicate its compliance.

The scheme was first outlined in the 2015 Conservative election manifesto and passed into law as part of the Digital Economy Act 2017. It was originally due to come into force from April 2018 after then-digital minister Matt Hancock signed the commencement order for the Act in July 2017, but was pushed back further to allow further consultation time on ensuring the law was properly applied.

“Adult content is currently far too easy for children to access online. The introduction of mandatory age-verification is a world-first, and we’ve taken the time to balance privacy concerns with the need to protect children from inappropriate content,” said Margot James, Minister for Digital.

“We want the UK to be the safest place in the world to be online, and these new laws will help us achieve this.”