Nearly Half of UK Porn Users Bypass Age Checks After New Law

Since the introduction of mandatory age-verification for online pornography in the UK under the Online Safety Act, a substantial portion of adult users have continued to access such content without completing age checks. The requirement, which came into force in July 2025, aims to prevent minors from viewing adult material online.

Survey data indicates that many adult users are seeking ways to avoid providing personal information to access pornography websites. The findings point to ongoing challenges in enforcing age-verification measures across the sector.

According to the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, 45% of surveyed adult pornography users reported accessing adult websites that did not require age verification since the rules took effect. Additionally, 29% of respondents stated they used virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass age checks on sites that enforce them.

Many users who visited sites without regulation encountered content that made them uncomfortable. Of those accessing unregulated sites, 39% reported seeing material that caused discomfort, and 40% said their experience discouraged them from returning to those sites.

What the numbers show

• 45% of surveyed users accessed adult sites without age checks after July 2025
• 29% reported using VPNs to bypass verification requirements
• 39% of users on unregulated sites encountered uncomfortable content
• 40% were discouraged from returning to unregulated sites

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation stated that users who avoid age-verification systems may be exposed to harmful or illegal content, including material related to child sexual abuse. The charity highlighted the risks associated with accessing unregulated websites that do not comply with UK safety standards.

Under the Online Safety Act, UK-based pornography websites are required to implement robust age-verification measures designed to prevent minors from accessing adult content. The law sets out clear obligations for operators to ensure compliance with these requirements.

Regulatory enforcement has included financial penalties for non-compliance. Ofcom fined AVS Group £1 million for failing to implement adequate age checks and imposed an additional £50,000 penalty for not responding to information requests from the regulator.

Efforts to enforce age-verification requirements continue, as authorities monitor compliance and address attempts to circumvent the rules. The regulatory framework remains focused on reducing underage access and improving online safety standards for adult content.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.