Age checks for watching online porn to be delayed

The UK Government is to delay the introduction of age checks for pornographic websites.

A new digital strategy document issued Monday says that the verification process is to be delayed to the end of 2018.

The move has been welcomed by privacy campaigners who claim such a process would be an infringement of personal data.

Opponents suggested that a mass government database of people’s porn habits would risk personal information being hacked and leaked, such as who watches gay porn and lesbian porn.

The proposals, detailed in last year’s Conservative manifesto, suggest that “all sites containing pornographic material” must all check that users are 18 years old or older.

The Government urged internet providers, charities and academics to contribute to a major consultation on the suggested new rules.

The likes of PornHub already pledged to abide by the new policy.

Doubt were cast on the plans by security expert – saying the proposals would be difficult to implement on sites where porn is freely accessible.

Myles Jackman, a lawyer who has campaigned against the proposals with the Open Rights Group, said the delay was an admission that ministers had failed to understand the implications of the age capture for online porn usage.

• Dec 01

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