Calling the release “a major milestone kick-starting the process,” Ofcom, the UK’s online safety regulator, has published its Age Assurance and Children’s Access Statement.
The statement outlines the mandates for user-to-user and search services (Part 3 services) to conduct their children’s access assessment. In contrast, platforms that publish pornographic content (Part 5 services) must take immediate action to implement robust, “highly effective” age verification that meets Ofcom’s guidance.
“We published proposals about the steps that Part 5 services should take to ensure that children are not normally able to encounter pornographic content in December 2023, together with our draft Part 5 Guidance,” Ofcom stated. “In our May 2024 consultation ‘protecting children from harms online,’ we consulted on our approach to children’s access assessments.”
Tim Henning, Executive Director of ASACP, the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection, participated in these consultations on behalf of the industry and its diverse stakeholders.
“ASACP follows and seeks to influence numerous legislative efforts worldwide,” Henning explained. “By doing so, we can obtain better outcomes for protecting children and preserving businesses serving consenting adults.”
“This has been a valuable function of the association over the past three decades and is only possible through our sponsors’ ongoing generosity and guidance,” he added.
These consultations resulted in various proposals for the Protection of Children Codes to guide legal compliance with the UK’s children’s safety duties. These measures require highly effective age assurance for user-to-user services, including sites that allow uploads and user-generated content (UGC).
In April, Ofcom will issue its Protection of Children statement, laying out further guidance for publishers.
“Today’s statement by Ofcom signals that platforms must now take action to comply with these new rules designed to provide a safer online life for children,” Henning added. “As a reminder, any service that allows pornography must implement ‘highly effective age assurance’ that prohibits children from accessing this material.”
Ofcom stresses that Part 5 services must implement “highly effective age assurance” on or before January 17, 2025, while user-to-user and search services must carry out a children’s access assessment before April 16, 2025.
“ASACP believes that all apps, platforms, and sites that allow, enable, or feature adult-oriented content should comply with the UK mandate, regardless of their location or primary market,” Henning concluded. “Doing so not only helps to protect children, but it’s good business, too!”
For more information, see Ofcom’s quick guide to children’s access assessments and highly effective age assurance.
To learn more about how your business can help protect itself by protecting children, email tim@asacp.org.
