The UK's media regulator, Ofcom, has taken a significant enforcement step by issuing a £1 million fine to the Belize-based pornography company, AVS Group. This penalty, the first of its kind under new online safety powers, highlights growing concerns about the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act in protecting children from harmful material.
A Disturbing Backdrop of Widespread Exposure
The fine comes against a deeply troubling backdrop. Recent research indicates that a majority of children have viewed violent pornography, including material depicting acts like strangulation. This is particularly alarming given studies linking exposure to such "choking" content with an increased likelihood of men attempting it in real life. The issue has been further amplified by the distressing rise of deepfake pornography in schools, where individuals' images are manipulated without consent.
Ofcom determined that the age-verification checks on AVS Group's websites were not robust enough to prevent under-18s from accessing its content. Oliver Griffiths, Ofcom's Director of Online Safety, stated that failure to pay the fine could result in the sites being blocked for UK users. He suggested a "tide turning" moment as the regulator's new powers come into effect.
Regulatory Challenges in a Fast-Moving Digital Landscape
However, this single fine underscores a much larger problem. Ofcom is currently investigating 90 other companies, 83 of which operate pornography sites, with more fines expected. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has warned that the regulator risks losing public trust if it does not accelerate the implementation of the Online Safety Act and address emerging threats more proactively.
The regulatory landscape is fraught with complexity. When Ofcom fined the controversial forum 4chan £20,000, the companies behind it and Kiwi Farms launched a legal challenge in a US court, arguing that UK online safety laws do not apply to them. Such battles make enforcement an uphill struggle.
Calls for Candour and Urgent Action on New Threats
Campaigners are pushing for a more assertive approach. Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly died after viewing harmful content online, advocates for a new "duty of candour" for tech companies and a less passive regulator. Their calls are made more urgent by the rise of new dangers, including agentic AI and chatbots accused in US lawsuits of acting as "suicide coaches."
Crossbench peer and campaigner Beeban Kidron has tabled amendments to the government's crime and policing bill to close gaps in the current law, a move supported by Kendall's admission that such loopholes exist. Critics argue ministers must not repeat the delays seen in criminalising deepfake intimate images.
Beyond pornography, Ofcom faces criticism for perceived inaction on issues like racism and climate misinformation on outlets such as GB News. In an era of rapid technological change and political polarisation, scrutiny of Ofcom's performance, especially concerning child protection, has never been more critical.
