UK Porn Sites Begin Age Checks — And It Could Change the Internet Worldwide
A major shift in online regulation took place on Friday, July 26, as a new UK law requiring age verification for pornography websites officially came into effect.
According to the BBC, around 6,000 adult sites have agreed to comply with the Online Safety Act, verifying users’ ages to ensure that children cannot access explicit material. However, at least one major porn site was reportedly still not enforcing age checks as of Friday morning — raising questions about enforcement and compliance.
This law is just one piece of a broader effort by the UK government to shield children from harmful online content. Platforms such as Reddit, Bluesky, Grindr, and even X (formerly Twitter) are now asking UK users to verify their age using selfies or government-issued IDs.
New Norm or Privacy Nightmare?
While the intent is child protection, the implementation has raised serious concerns. Advocacy groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have criticized mandatory age checks as a threat to online privacy and anonymity.
Why? Because verifying your age often means uploading sensitive personal data, like:
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High-resolution selfies
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Driver’s licenses or passports
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Real names and birthdates
In the wrong hands, this data can be exploited. Just look at the recent data breach of the dating safety app Tea, where leaked selfies and IDs uploaded for verification were among the exposed files.
The Rise of Online Age Gates
What’s happening in the UK might soon set the tone globally. As Wired reports, age verification laws are becoming more common worldwide, especially as governments push platforms to take stronger responsibility for protecting minors.
And that includes non-pornographic platforms, too: gaming, social media, and even video-sharing apps could soon require similar checks — changing the online experience for everyone.
Can You Bypass the Checks?
Predictably, some users are already trying to get around the new rules. Common tactics include:
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Uploading fake IDs
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Using AI-generated selfies or avatars (like video game characters)
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Connecting via VPNs to bypass UK geolocation
While some of these work temporarily, they don’t guarantee safety or legality, and platforms are actively improving detection systems.
The Bigger Question: Is This the Future of the Web?
The UK’s Online Safety Act may be the first of many global regulations to reshape the internet into a more controlled — but potentially less private — space.
As child protection clashes with civil liberties, the debate continues:
🔐 Should we trade anonymity for safety?
🌐 Is this the price of a “cleaner” internet?
One thing is clear: the digital landscape is changing, and fast.
Stay tuned to Geekoven for more insights on tech, policy, and the future of your online freedom.
