The long-awaited UK Porn Review, led by Baroness Gabby Bertin, marks a major step toward more effective regulation of online pornography. The report includes 32 key recommendations aimed at reducing harm, eliminating illegal content, and bringing online standards in line with offline media regulations.
For businesses operating in the adult content space, this review signals a shift from guidance to enforcement—and the need for urgent action to implement highly effective age verification and content moderation solutions.
Stronger Oversight for Adult Platforms
One of the core recommendations is the expansion of regulatory oversight. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) may soon be tasked with auditing and certifying adult content platforms that follow best practices—a significant shift from its traditional role, which was limited to physical media sold in licensed shops.
This change would bring:
- Greater accountability for online pornographic content
- Stronger enforcement of ethical and legal standards
- Increased trust from users and regulatory bodies
At 18Verified, we welcome this move and stand ready to help platforms meet these evolving standards.
Targeting Harmful and Non-Consensual Content
The Porn Review shines a spotlight on the normalisation of violence in porn, particularly scenes involving non-fatal strangulation or ‘choking’. While this is a criminal offence when done without consent, its portrayal online remains legal.
The review recommends:
- Stricter regulation of violent and degrading content
- Ethical content standards to reduce real-world harm
- Implementation of a Safe Pornography Code based on BBFC guidelines
It also calls for the removal of step-incest-themed content from search results and homepages—a common feature of mainstream adult platforms that the review identifies as harmful and misleading.
Tackling AI-Generated and Deepfake Pornography
Another major concern raised is the rise of AI-generated explicit content, including:
- Deepfake pornography
- Nudification apps that create non-consensual nudes
The Porn Review proposes a ban on AI-powered tools used to produce synthetic pornographic material without the subject’s consent. These tools pose a significant threat to privacy and are widely used to target women, celebrities, and minors.
Regulating this area will be critical in the months ahead—and platforms must be ready to detect and prevent AI-based abuse.
Mandatory Age Verification Under the Online Safety Act
The Online Safety Act (OSA), passed in 2023, legally obliges online services to protect children from accessing pornographic material. According to the Porn Review, Ofcom should be granted powers to prosecute platforms that fail to remove illegal or harmful content.
By July 2025, all services hosting or distributing pornography—whether original or user-generated—must implement a “highly effective age assurance” system.
Examples of accepted methods include:
- ID document checks
- AI-based age estimation
- Email and mobile number analysis
At 18Verified, we provide all of these in a GDPR-compliant, privacy-preserving, and scalable format.
Implementation Is the Next Crucial Step
While the Porn Review provides a strong foundation for reform, real progress depends on political will and enforcement. The incoming Labour Government has a clear mandate to prioritise online safety—especially for women, children, and vulnerable communities.
Key factors for success include:
- Timely adoption of recommendations
- Enforcement powers for Ofcom and BBFC
- Industry-wide adoption of age verification and content moderation tools
As Baroness Bertin’s report makes clear, the UK is positioned to lead globally on online pornography regulation, much like it has on deepfake legislation. But implementation must be swift and effective.
18Verified Supports Safe, Legal, and Compliant Online Content
At 18Verified, we’ve been working at the forefront of age assurance, consent management, and content moderation to ensure online platforms meet the latest legal standards.
- ✅ Certified to PAS 1296:2018
- ✅ API and plug-and-play integration
- ✅ Subscription-based, cost-effective compliance
- ✅ Trusted by platforms preparing for OSA enforcement in July 2025
👉 Explore our age verification solutions
👉 Speak to our compliance team today
Tags: UK Porn Review 2025, Online Safety Act, age verification software, BBFC regulation, AI-generated porn, deepfake detection, non-consensual content, child protection, Safe Pornography Code, online content moderation, adult platform compliance, 18Verified, PAS 1296, ethical porn standards UK
