Age verification on pornography web sites welcomed

Christian campaign group CARE has welcomed a recent requirement, effective today, for age verification systems on pornographic web sites accessed from the UK. 

CARE has been campaigning for over a decade to introduce the measure as a method of protecting children online.

The group said that communications regulator Ofcom must be placed in command of enforcement motion against web sites that fail to follow the brand new plans.

Tim Cairns, Online Safety Policy Lead at CARE, said the brand new requirements represented a “huge moment” that might give greater protection to young people.

“Porn use is linked to violent sexual crimes and sexual harassment in schools. Studies show it also has a harmful impact on relationships and mental health,” he said. “This is a change that may give parents more confidence that their children won’t stumble across porn accidently online, or give you the chance to access it in the event that they are under age.”

Cains went on to warn that proper enforcement can be key and that Ofcom should take swift motion against any offenders as a deterrent to others who neglect to introduce the right verification systems.

The extent of the issue of under-age pornography users is difficult to gauge. Last month Ofcom published research which suggested that eight per cent of 8 to 14 yr olds within the UK have been exposed to online pornography. The research conceded that this figure would likely have been higher if 15 to 17 yr olds were included of their study.

A survey by the Children’s Commissioner suggested that 79 per cent of young people have seen some type of violent, coercive or degrading pornography by the point they reach the age of 18.

The same research suggested that 27 per cent of youngsters have seen pornography by age 11, and 10 per cent by the age of nine. The average age for a toddler’s first encounter with online pornography is 13.