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UK issues 1 million fine to adult platform for failing to comply with age
verification rules

Date:
Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:59:36 +0000

Description:
AVS Group Ltd also got hit with an additional 50,000 fee for failing to
respond to information requests as Ofcom strenghts its grip on Online Safety
Act's enforcement.

FULL STORY

The UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, has fined a major adult platform 1
million for non-compliance with its age verification rules. 

AVS Group Ltd, which is the company behind 18 websites, was also served an
additional 50,000 fee for failing to respond to information requests. 

"While AVS has implemented what it refers to as age verification, we do not
consider it to be highly effective," said Ofcom . The regulator has given the
company a 72-hour deadline to implement more effective age assurance or face
further fines of up to 1,000 per day. 

 Mandatory age verification landed in the UK last July as part of the Online
Safety Act. Under the rules, all websites and apps displaying content deemed
"harmful for minors" are required to verify their users' age. 

Intended to boost children's safety online, age checks have sparked
significant privacy concerns among many with people turning to VPN services 
in a bid to protect their personal data. 

Today's announcement coincides with the publication of Ofcom's first report 
on how the online safety landscape is evolving under the Online Safety Act, 
in which the regulator acknowledged that more information is needed on VPNs .

Ofcom to strength its grip on age checks

AVS Group Ltd isn't the only company currently on Ofcom's radar and there are
suggestions that further fines may be on the way. 

Among these, Ofcom has mentioned an unnamed major social media platform which
it says is at risk of getting hit with formal action if no improvements are
made. 

Ofcom also said it has also expanded the scope of its investigation into
4chan. The controversial blog site previously confirmed to the BBC that it 
had refused to pay Ofcom's daily fines. 

Commenting on the regulator's work, Ofcom's Online Safety Group Director,
Oliver Griffiths, said: "The tide on online safety is beginning to turn for
the better. This year has seen important changes for people, with new 
measures across many sites and apps now better protecting children from
harmful content. But we need to see much more from tech companies next year,
and well use our full powers if they fall short." 

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. 
For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms
and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and
strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone
using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Consuming
pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future
Publishing. 

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/uk-issues-gbp1-million-fine
-to-adult-platform-for-failing-to-comply-with-age-verification-rules

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