What Industries Are Affected by the New UK Age Verification Laws – And Why Compliance Is Essential

Posted on July 9, 2025 by admin@18verified

Starting 25th July 2025, the UK government will enforce strict new age verification regulations aimed at protecting children from harmful online content. These laws require websites offering age-restricted products or services to verify the age of their users before granting access. Failure to comply could result in penalties of up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover.

But what exactly does this mean for your business? Below, we break down the industries most affected and why acting now is crucial.

1. Adult Content Websites

Any platform hosting or linking to sexually explicit content will be directly impacted. This includes pornography websites, erotic blogs, adult forums, and dating platforms with NSFW features. The law mandates that users must prove they are 18 or older before gaining access—cookie popups and disclaimers are no longer enough.

2. Vape & E-Cigarette Retailers

Online vape stores must implement robust age verification systems to prevent underage sales. Whether selling e-liquids, vape pens, or accessories, these businesses are legally required to confirm that customers are over 18 at point of access, not just at checkout.

3. Gambling & Betting Platforms

From sports betting sites to online casinos, gambling platforms have long been regulated—but the new laws go further. Age verification must now occur before any gameplay or deposit takes place, regardless of whether the user eventually places a bet.

4. CBD, Hemp & Cannabis Product Sites

CBD oil, edibles, and hemp products are increasingly popular, but they remain age-restricted in many regions. UK retailers selling these items online must ensure visitors are 18+ before they can browse product pages or make a purchase.

5. Firearm, Knife, and Hunting Equipment Retailers

Websites that sell hunting gear, knives, or firearm-related equipment must verify users’ age prior to access. This includes air rifles, archery supplies, and tactical gear. The regulations apply even if the products are intended for sport or display.

6. Escort & Adult Services Directories

Escort agencies and adult entertainment directories that advertise 18+ services are also required to verify user age. Simply placing a warning on the homepage is no longer acceptable under the new legislation.

Why Is Compliance So Important?

The UK government has made it clear that these new rules are not optional. Sites that fail to comply risk:

Being blocked by UK internet service providers
Fines up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover
Reputational damage and loss of consumer trust

These laws are designed to create a safer internet for everyone, particularly children. Businesses that comply early show leadership and a commitment to online safety.

How 18Verified Can Help

18Verified offers an affordable, privacy-focused age verification solution that keeps you compliant without sacrificing user experience. Our unique model charges the user £2/month for access to all participating sites, saving businesses thousands in pay-per-check fees.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Get compliant now.

👉 Join 18Verified today and protect your business before the deadline hits.

Why 18Verified Is the Only Age Verification Platform That Shifts the Cost to Users – And Why That Matters

Posted on July 8, 2025 by admin@18verified

Why 18Verified Is the Only Age Verification Platform That Shifts the Cost to Users – And Why That Matters

As the UK’s new age verification laws come into effect, thousands of websites are scrambling to find a compliant solution that won’t break the bank. But while most age verification providers charge businesses on a per-check basis, 18Verified is doing things differently — and better.

💡 The Only Subscription-Based Age Verification Platform

At 18Verified, we’ve flipped the model.

Instead of charging businesses for every age check — which can become incredibly expensive as traffic grows — we charge users a simple, affordable subscription: just £2 per month.

This small fee gives verified users unlimited access to all websites in our trusted network, using just one login.

Why This Benefits Everyone

✅ For Businesses:

No pay-per-check fees
Predictable yearly costs (API from £500/year, Plug & Play from £300/year)
No financial penalties for growing traffic
Instant legal compliance with UK age verification laws

✅ For Users:

One-time verification
Access to all 18Verified sites
No repeated ID uploads
No facial recognition
Full privacy and control

The Problem with Traditional Providers

Most providers charge websites £0.50–£2 per check, which means the more successful your site becomes, the more you pay. It penalises growth — and forces many businesses to pass those costs onto users anyway, or face losing revenue.

With 18Verified, your costs stay fixed — and your users handle their own verification, once and for all.

Join the 18Verified Network

Our mission is to make online age verification:

Affordable for businesses
Simple for users
Secure and compliant for everyone

We’re proud to be the only provider in the UK offering a user-paid, subscription-based gateway.

Ready to Stay Compliant and Save Money?

Get started with 18Verified today and join a growing network of responsible, future-proof websites.

👉 Sign up your business now

Tags: age verification platform, user subscription model, UK compliance, affordable age verification, one login, 18+ gateway, online safety laws

Ofcom Confirms Email-Based Age Estimation as a Compliant Solution for Pornography Sites Under the Online Safety Act

Posted on July 2, 2025July 2, 2025 by admin@18verified

On 16 January 2025, Ofcom released its long-awaited official guidance on age assurance for adult content platforms under the UK Online Safety Act (OSA). The new rules require pornography sites—starting with platforms that publish their own content—to demonstrate they are protecting children from accessing explicit material online.

Crucially, the guidance confirms that users will not need to upload ID documents. Instead, Ofcom supports innovative age assurance methods such as email-based age estimation—a low-friction, privacy-first solution now recognised as fully compliant.

In this article, we break down the key takeaways from Ofcom’s announcement and explain why email-based age estimation, pioneered by 18Verified’s technology partner Verifymy, is the future of online compliance for adult content providers.

What Does the Online Safety Act Require?

The Online Safety Act (OSA) is a UK law that mandates all online services, including adult content platforms, to implement highly effective age assurance solutions to prevent children from accessing pornography.

The Two Service Categories

Part 5 Services: Platforms that publish their own pornographic content (e.g. studios, pay sites)
Part 3 Services: Sites that host user-generated adult content (e.g. tube sites, cam platforms, fan sites)

Key Compliance Deadlines

Date	Requirement
January 2025	Part 5 services must begin implementing highly effective age assurance. Part 3 services must assess children’s access risks.
April 2025	Ofcom will publish the Protection of Children Codes and guidance.
July 2025	All services must have a compliant age assurance system in place.

To enforce compliance, Ofcom has launched an Age Assurance Enforcement Programme, requiring all relevant providers to confirm their compliance status by 5 March 2025.

What Is “Highly Effective” Age Assurance?

To meet Ofcom’s standard, age assurance solutions must be:

Technically accurate
Robust
Reliable
Fair

Accepted methods include:

Email-based age estimation ✅
Facial age estimation
Mobile operator checks
Open banking
Photo ID checks
Digital identity services
Credit card checks

⚠️ Self-declaration is not accepted.

Why Email-Based Age Estimation Is a Game-Changer

Among the approved methods, email-based age estimation stands out for its accuracy, privacy, and low-friction implementation—making it ideal for adult content sites seeking high compliance and low user drop-off.

✅ Technically Accurate

Certified under PAS 1296:2018 to EAL 3
0% false positives in ACCS EAL level 3 testing
Accurately identifies age using only an email address

✅ Robust

Anti-spoofing via One Time Password (OTP)
Users must verify ownership of the email

✅ Reliable

Uses third-party identity signals
Aligned with Ofcom’s reliability framework

✅ Fair & Inclusive

99.94% of users have email access
Bias-free and accessible across all demographics

✅ Commercially Viable

73% of users prefer email checks over ID scans
Seamless integration with minimal drop-off

Seamless Compliance Without Losing Conversions

Unlike traditional ID verification methods, email-based age estimation is:

Fast and unobtrusive
Compliant with Ofcom and OSA
Privacy-preserving
Ideal for platforms already collecting email addresses

At 18Verified, we offer this solution along with:

Facial age estimation
Photo ID matching
Credit card checks
Mobile operator lookups

👉 Explore our age assurance solutions

Ofcom’s Enforcement Is Real – Act Now

Ofcom is actively contacting pornography providers and expects full compliance declarations by 5 March 2025. Sanctions for non-compliance include:

Regulatory fines
Criminal penalties
Platform takedown orders

Now is the time to upgrade to a highly effective, low-friction age assurance solution.

A Message from Our Team

Lina Ghazal, Head of Regulatory and Public Affairs at Verifymy:

“As the Online Safety Act rolls out, 2025 must be a year where regulatory talk turns to action. Only effective implementation will drive real-world results.

At Verifymy, we are giving platforms the tools they need to meet regulatory requirements head-on—while protecting both children and adult users.”

Conclusion

The Online Safety Act is here—and Ofcom’s 2025 guidance makes it clear that adult platforms must act fast. With email-based age estimation, providers can meet all legal obligations without losing users, violating privacy, or disrupting revenue.

✅ Fully compliant
✅ Certified under PAS 1296
✅ Preferred by users
✅ Trusted by regulators

👉 Contact 18Verified today to stay ahead of regulation and protect your business.

Tags: Online Safety Act UK, Ofcom age assurance guidance, age verification for porn sites, email-based age estimation, PAS 1296 certified, adult site compliance 2025, Verifymy, 18Verified, frictionless age assurance, age verification software, UK porn regulation, OSA enforcement, digital identity UK

Tag: adult content compliance