UK Hits Porn Giant with Record £1 Million Fine for Weak Age Checks on 18 Sites
London, December 5, 2025 (BNN Web Staff) –
Britain’s media regulator Ofcom has issued its largest-ever penalty under the new Online Safety Act, fining the AVS Group £1 million ($1.3 million) for failing to implement “highly effective” age verification across its 18 adult websites.
The landmark fine — the first seven-figure sanction since the law took effect in July 2025 — also includes an extra £50,000 penalty for the company’s failure to respond properly to Ofcom’s information requests.
Ofcom stated bluntly:
“While AVS has implemented what it refers to as age verification, we do not consider it to be highly effective.”
The regulator has given the company a strict 72-hour deadline to introduce robust age checks or face escalating daily fines. In extreme cases, Ofcom can seek court orders to block the sites entirely from the UK.
What the Law Requires
Since 25 July 2025, any website publishing pornography (or content promoting suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders) in the UK must use strict age-verification methods, such as:
- Facial age estimation
- Credit/debit card checks
- ID document verification
- Third-party age-verification services
Sites that fail to comply risk fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global annual revenue — whichever is higher.
Wider Crackdown Underway
Ofcom confirmed it is currently investigating 34 adult websites for similar breaches. Thursday’s action against AVS is seen as a clear warning shot to the entire industry.
Mixed Reactions
- Children’s safety campaigners hailed the fine as a “milestone victory” after years of lobbying.
- Free-speech advocates, particularly on the political right, condemned it as state overreach and “censorship by the back door.”
- Privacy groups noted a massive surge in VPN downloads since July, as users seek to bypass geo-restrictions.
The Online Safety Act is now in full force — and Ofcom has shown it is ready to use its teeth. More multimillion-pound fines and site blocks are widely expected in the coming months.
