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Business, General News
July 30, 2025

What the New Online Safety Laws Mean for Your Business

It’s official! The UK’s Online Safety Act is now law, and it’s already reshaping how adult websites are expected to operate. Gone are the days of simple “Are you over 18?” age checks. If your platform includes pornographic or explicit material, you’re now legally required to implement robust, “highly effective” age verification, or risk serious consequences.

For anyone running (or planning to launch) an adult website, we’re afraid these rules are non-negotiable. In this blog, we’ll break down exactly what adult businesses need to know about the Online Safety Act 2025: what’s already in place, what’s coming next, and how to stay compliant.

Looking to build a compliant, scalable, and fully monetised website? Explore our adult web design services to learn more.

Contents:

What Is the Online Safety Act?


The Online Safety Act (OSA), passed in October 2023, is the UK’s most significant internet regulation law to date. It’s designed to tackle the spread of harmful and illegal content online, with a heavy focus on protecting children. But while all platforms are affected, adult websites are one of the law’s top priorities.

In Ofcom’s words, adult services must now implement “highly effective age assurance” for pornographic content. If your site shows explicit material to UK users without verifying their age, you could be in breach of the law, even if the content isn’t user-generated.

According to the TrustLab overview, these new rules are part of a broader shift away from vague promises of “responsibility” and toward measurable, enforceable standards. That means ticking a legal box isn’t enough… regulators want to see clear evidence that your platform is keeping minors out.

 

What Types of Sites Does It Affect?

The Online Safety Act doesn’t just target traditional porn sites – it applies to any online service that allows UK users to access or share pornographic content. That includes:

  • All pornographic websites accessible in the UK (even if hosted internationally)
  • Adult camming and live streaming platforms
  • Escort websites with explicit galleries or videos
  • Clip stores, fan sites, and amateur content platforms
  • Any site that includes user-generated or commercially produced pornography

According to Ofcom’s official guidance, you may fall within scope if your service allows users to upload or share pornographic content or makes any type of commercial or amateur porn available to UK users, even if it isn’t the core focus of your site.

Does This Apply to You?

If your platform meets any of the criteria below, it’s very likely in scope for Ofcom’s enforcement:

  • You allow users to upload or view explicit content
  • You promote or feature adult videos or image galleries
  • You run a subscription or pay-per-view fan platform with nudity or sexual content
  • You operate in the adult escort, fetish, or camming space

Even if porn isn’t your site’s main purpose, the presence of adult material – and your reach in the UK – is enough to trigger regulatory obligations. Not even Twitter/X can escape the new rules.

That’s why it’s crucial for fan platforms, escort agencies, independent performers, and adult businesses of all types to take these new rules seriously.

 

What Does “Highly Effective” Age Verification Mean?

In 2025, Ofcom made it clear that most traditional methods of age-checking will no longer be accepted.

The following are no longer considered sufficient:

  • “Are you over 18?” checkboxes or pop-ups
  • General disclaimers or terms & conditions
  • Debit card payments (as under-18s can still access debit cards)

Instead, the OSA requires sites to implement one or more of the following approved methods:

  • Open Banking – Banks confirm if a user is 18+, without sharing DOB
  • AI Age Estimation – Facial analysis tools verify users based on selfie submissions
  • Credit Card Verification – Only credit cards (18+ product) are acceptable
  • ID Uploads – Matching photo ID with a selfie for identity confirmation
  • Mobile Network Verification – Using telecom providers that already verify age for adult content access

These methods must be accurate, secure, and privacy-compliant. Ofcom recommends choosing a provider with a strong track record in age assurance.

 

What Are the Penalties for Non-Compliance?

Falling short of the Online Safety Act isn’t just a slap on the wrist – it’s potentially business-ending.

Ofcom, now the official online safety regulator, has sweeping powers to investigate and penalise platforms that fail to meet their legal duties. According to their 2025 enforcement guide, non-compliance could lead to:

  • Fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue – whichever is greater
  • Blocking orders via UK internet service providers – cutting your site off from the UK market entirely
  • Formal compliance notices – with legal deadlines to implement changes
  • Full audits – including requests for age verification logs, content moderation systems, and user reporting records

This is no longer about ticking boxes – it’s about proving your platform has taken proportionate, documented action to keep children out and harmful content in check. Failure to do so could see your business investigated, fined, or shut out of the UK entirely.

If you’re not sure where to start or want help implementing a future-proof age assurance solution, talk to our compliance experts today.

 

What About Privacy?

Understandably, one of the biggest concerns for adult platforms – and their users – is privacy. Will users really be comfortable submitting ID or a selfie just to browse explicit content?

Ofcom is aware of these concerns, and that’s why their official guidance allows a range of proportionate, privacy-preserving verification methods, including options that don’t require storing sensitive documents.

For example:

  • Open banking age checks allow banks to confirm whether a user is 18+ without sharing their name or date of birth
  • Credit card validation confirms a user is over 18 using their card type – no identity data stored
  • Facial age estimation analyses a selfie without storing or comparing ID documents

As Ofcom themselves have stated, the goal is not to create a surveillance state, but to stop children from stumbling across extreme sexual content. That means platforms are free to choose methods that suit their audience, brand, and risk level.

That’s exactly why our upcoming membership system is built with user trust and flexibility at its core… but more on that later.

 

How Did the UK React to the New Law?

The rollout of the Online Safety Act hasn’t exactly gone quietly. While the government insists the new rules are vital for child protection, a growing segment of the public (and even some politicians) believe the law may have gone too far. The clash between safety, privacy, and digital freedom has never been more apparent.

Government vs Public

Shortly after the July 24 deadline, a public petition calling for the repeal of age verification laws gained over 350,000 signatures in just days, forcing the government to issue a formal response.

Critics say the new rules are “invasive, unworkable and easily circumvented,” while many worry about the privacy risks of uploading ID to adult sites.

In response, a government spokesperson defended the law as “a crucial step to prevent children from accessing online pornography,” stressing that the regulations do not require personal data to be stored or shared unnecessarily. Instead, platforms are being encouraged to adopt privacy-respecting verification tools, something Ofcom also highlights in their guidance.

Still, the controversy reflects a deep tension: how do you protect minors without compromising the rights of adult users, or risking mass non-compliance?

 

Workarounds, VPNs & Loopholes

Predictably, users are already finding ways around the restrictions. VPN downloads surged in the UK the week the law came into effect, with many adults and teens using location-masking tools to bypass site-level age gates. On social media, guides for getting around the rules went viral almost overnight.


Ofcom has publicly acknowledged the risk of circumvention, warning that platforms must not encourage or indirectly promote the use of VPNs. While no action has been taken yet, some government insiders have floated the idea of banning VPNs altogether, though this remains unconfirmed and highly controversial.

That said, here’s what matters for adult site operators: just because users can cheat the system doesn’t mean you can. UK-based platforms – and international sites accessible from the UK – are still legally required to implement “highly effective” age assurance methods. You can’t rely on disclaimers, debit card payments, or hope that users verify themselves elsewhere. If Ofcom audits your platform, you’ll need to show evidence of due diligence, regardless of any workarounds your users might be exploiting.

 

Timeline: What’s Already Happened & What’s Next?

The Online Safety Act is rolling out in structured phases. And as of July 2025, the most critical rules for adult platforms are already in force.

Here’s a clear breakdown of what’s happened so far and what’s coming next:

  • October 26, 2023: The Online Safety Act 2023 received Royal Assent and officially became law. From this point, all platforms—especially those with adult content—were on notice to begin preparing for compliance.
  • December 2024: Ofcom published its Illegal Content Risk Assessment guidance and first draft Codes of Practice. These outlined expectations for content moderation, age checks, and reporting obligations, particularly for high-risk services.
  • March 17, 2025: Platforms became legally obligated to protect users from illegal content online. This includes completing risk assessments, implementing moderation systems, and offering reporting tools for harmful material like CSAM, hate speech or non-consensual content.
  • July 24, 2025: Sites must now have age assurance systems in place to prevent minors from accessing pornographic or harmful content. A formal Children’s Risk Assessment must also be completed, with all reasonable protections implemented.
  • Early 2026: Ofcom is expected to begin full enforcement. This includes formal audits, demands for compliance records, and severe financial penalties (up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue) for sites that fall short.

So,  if your site still relies on outdated age disclaimers or lacks proper moderation, you’re now officially non-compliant. This means you’re potentially just weeks away from being fined or blocked in the UK.

 

What Should You Be Doing Right Now?

If you haven’t already taken steps toward compliance, the time to act is now. Based on the current Ofcom guidance, here’s what adult site operators should be prioritising:

  1. Conduct a Children’s Risk Assessment – This is mandatory for any site that may be accessed by minors and includes adult content. You need to assess the likelihood of exposure and document your mitigation plans.
  2. Implement a Verified Age Check System – Choose one or more of the approved age assurance methods (e.g. ID upload, AI age estimation, credit card verification) and integrate it into your site’s user journey.
  3. Introduce Content Filtering – Any NSFW or explicit content must be gated behind your age-check process. Non-verified users should not be able to access it in any form.
  4. Enable User Reporting – Visitors must have an easy way to report harmful or illegal content, and your team must have a process to act quickly.
  5. Maintain Documentation – Keep internal records of your safety measures, moderation activity, and any flagged content or user reports. These may be requested during an audit.

If this all sounds overwhelming, that’s where we come in. Our team specialises in building adult platforms that meet both legal standards and user expectations. In fact, we’re about to launch a brand-new CMS feature that’s built from the ground up for Online Safety Act compliance.

 

What Makes Our New CMS Feature Different?

It’s easy to see this law as a burden. But for the smart operators? It’s also an opportunity.

By introducing verified membership systems, adult sites can unlock powerful new tools for audience growth, engagement, and monetisation, all while staying compliant with Ofcom’s guidelines. Instead of worrying about fines, you’ll be building a safer, more marketable brand with stronger user data, smarter marketing, and increased trust.

Read our blog on how to comply with the Online Safety Act, in which we break down the full membership system we’re rolling out. This includes how it works, how it protects your users, and how it opens the door to powerful features like:

  • NSFW content blurring for non-verified users
  • Tiered memberships and exclusive content
  • Behaviour tagging, CRM features, and more

 

Need Help Navigating the Online Safety Act?

If you run or manage an adult website and aren’t sure how these laws affect you, we can help. Our team works exclusively in the adult industry, building fully custom platforms that meet your business goals, all while keeping your site safe, secure, and profitable.

Contact us today to discuss your site’s compliance status.

The world is changing. Make sure your platform is ready for it.

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