New provisions of the Online Safety Act have come into force in the United Kingdom, aimed at protecting minors from harmful content. All adult websites are now required to implement age verification mechanisms.
The restrictions apply to websites with information about self-harm, eating disorders, suicide, as well as resources with pornography and content promoting violence, bullying and misogyny. Such sites are required to request personal information, which must be verified. Verification can be done by taking a selfie with a passport or by verifying credit card details.
Many platforms have already begun implementing age verification systems in line with the requirements. These include Reddit and Discord. In the Telegram messenger, an official bot has also begun operating in the country to verify the age of users using facial recognition technology. Six thousand porn sites have promised to implement the procedure.
Earlier, a controversial law on the protection of children on the Internet was passed in Texas. It requires Apple and Google to verify the age of users and obtain parental consent before downloads and purchases.
