Pornography websites in the UK could soon be legally required to verify the ages of their users or face a massive fine, as per a new internet safety law that is still in the works.

The age verification requirement is mandatory under the Online Safety Bill that seeks to offer children better protection from explicit content on the internet. While it is not currently known how exactly porn websites will verify ages, reports suggest that users might be required to furnish credit card details to prove they are above 18. Third-party age verification services are also being considered.

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Notably, porn websites that fail to meet this requirement could face enormous fines under the new legislation, with penalties going as high as 10% of their global turnover. Porn websites could also be permanently banned in the UK for violating the age verification requirement.

Announcing the plan to legally impose age verification requirements on porn sites, Digital Economy Minister Chris Philp said, “Parents deserve peace of mind that their children are protected online from seeing things no child should see.”

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Children’s groups in the UK have long been calling for age verification requirements for porn sites and have repeatedly said that it is far too easy for children to access explicit material that is publicly available online.

Indeed, studies suggest that almost 50% of all 11 to 13 year olds in the UK have watched pornography at some point in their short lives, which experts suggest is detrimental not only for children’s mental health, but also an unhealthy way to learn about sex and consent.

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The Online Safety Bill, however, has not been passed into law yet. Hence, the age verification requirements have not come into effect yet.

The Bill is expected to be presented in the UK parliament in the months to come, where voting will take place to decide whether it is enacted as legislation.