Trying to track the staggered implementation of the UK Online Safety Act 2023 (“OSA”)? You are in safe hands here. See the latest updates and key dates below.

26 June 2025Statement: Online Safety - fees and penalties

Ofcom has published its final policy statement following consultation responses on implementing the online safety fees and penalties regime under the Online Safety Act. The statement sets out final decisions on defining and calculating Qualifying Worldwide Revenue (QWR) for online safety fees and penalties, exemptions, and the QWR Notifications process. Ofcom has advised the Secretary of State on the QWR Threshold, expected to be laid in Parliament in Q4 2025, after which liable providers must submit their QWR notifications to Ofcom. Ofcom stated that for the first charging year, notifications need to be submitted within four months of the date on which the threshold regulations come into force. Ofcom’s decision on the UK referable revenue exemption has been submitted to the Secretary of State for approval, with an announcement on the outcome of the approval process to follow.

26 June 2025UK’s major porn providers agree to age checks from next month

Ofcom announced that from 25 July 2025, all sites and apps that allow pornography, including adult sites, social media, search and gaming services, must implement highly effective age checks to prevent children from accessing adult content. Major porn providers operating in the UK, including PornHub, YouPorn, RedTube, BoyfriendTV, Cam4, FrolicMe, inxxx, Jerkmate, LiveHDCams, MyDirtyHobby, Streamate, Stripchat and Tube8 have confirmed compliance. Ofcom has warned that it will take enforcement action against non-compliant services, such as imposing fines or applying for a court order to prevent the site or app from being available in the UK.

26 June 2025Age checks for online safety – what you need to know as a user

Ofcom explains the upcoming age check requirements under the Online Safety Act, coming into effect on 25 July 2025. All sites and apps allowing pornography must implement strong age verification to prevent children from accessing harmful content. This marks a major change in how adults in the UK access online pornography, moving beyond simple “over 18” clicks. Various secure methods—such as facial age estimation, open banking, digital ID services, credit card age checks, email-based age estimation, mobile network operator age checks and photo-ID matching—may be used to confirm users’ ages while protecting their privacy. Research shows that 8% of UK children aged 8-14 access porn monthly, highlighting the need for these measures. Sites failing to comply risk being blocked in the UK.Trying to track the staggered implementation of the UK Online Safety Act 2023 (“OSA”)? You are in safe hands here. See the latest updates and key dates below.

12 June 2025New online super-complaint regime due in force from 31 December 2025 under the Online Safety Act

The UK government published the Online Safety Super-Complaints (Eligibility and Procedural Matters) Regulations 2025, setting out the framework for a new super-complaint’ regime, which comes into force on 31 December 2025. The regime will allow eligible entities to escalate concerns to Ofcom about systemic failings by online services to protect users from harm. Super-complaints must include evidence and will trigger Ofcom’s duty to investigate and respond within a specified timeframe. To submit a super-complaint, an organisation must represent the interests of users or the public; be independent from the regulated services (some links allowed with safeguards); demonstrate online safety expertise; and be reliable in following Ofcom’s guidance. The draft regulations outline the procedural steps required to submit an admissible complaint for Ofcom’s consideration as well as the requirements for how Ofcom must respond to such complaints. Ofcom will publish guidance to support organisations when submitting a super complaint.

10 June 2025Ofcom opens nine new investigations under the Online Safety Act

Ofcom launched investigations into 4chan and seven file-sharing services – Im.ge, Krakenfiles, Nippybox, Nippydrive, Nippyshare, Nippyspace and Yolobit. Specifically, it is looking at whether these services have failed to put appropriate safety measures in place to protect UK users from illegal content and activity; complete – and keep a record of – a suitable and sufficient illegal harms risk assessment; and respond to a statutory information request. Ofcom also launched an investigation into porn provider First Time Videos LLC for potentially lacking effective age-verification tools on its pornographic websites.

14 May 2025Ofcom investigates Kick Online Entertainment

Ofcom launched two investigations into whether Kick Online Entertainment S.A (Kick Online), which is responsible for providing the pornography website Motherless.com, has failed to comply with its duties under the Online Safety Act. The investigations relate to the failure to complete and keep a record of a suitable and sufficient illegal risk assessment and to respond to Ofcom’s statutory information request. Ofcom is also considering launching an investigation as to whether Kick Online has put appropriate safety measures in place to protect its UK users from illegal content, particularly child sexual abuse material and extreme pornography.

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