UK Online Safety laws

Started by MonkeyBee, August 08, 2025, 11:32:13 AM

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MonkeyBee

Hi there, not sure if this is the right place to bring this up, but websites with adult content are starting to be blocked for UK access unless they meet Ofcom's new guidance, and they seem to be moving pretty swiftly on this. Itchio sites with explicit romance content are now inaccessible. Mainstream social media sites are restricting content and/or using third parties to check photo ID in order to avoid hefty fines. 

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/24/what-are-the-new-uk-online-safety-rules-and-how-will-they-be-enforced

I was wondering whether it's even feasible for Elliquiy to meet these ID check requirements, or if us UK people should be preparing to be restricted imminently unless we're using a VPN?

Oniya

We have found our existing checks to be quite effective.  Our policies regarding legal matters are stated in rules 3 and 5 here.
"Language was invented for one reason, boys - to woo women.~*~*~Don't think it's all been done before
And in that endeavor, laziness will not do." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Don't think we're never gonna win this war
Robin Williams-Dead Poets Society ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Don't think your world's gonna fall apart
I do have a cause, though.  It's obscenity.  I'm for it.  - Tom Lehrer~*~All you need is your beautiful heart
O/O's Updated 5/11/21 - A/A's - Current Status! (Oct 31) - Writing a novel - all draws for Fool of Fire up! Requests closed

MonkeyBee

Thanks Oniya. I know you have an age policy in place; I'm raising the issue that ofcom is now requiring formal ID checks on international sites rather than self-verification in order to meet their standards (and they are the ones deciding whether a website's checks are good enough or not). As far as I understand, they are planning on issuing fines regardless of which laws the website owners are covered by because of UK users being impacted, which is why a lot of larger international organisations are now choosing to restrict UK access, or use third party checks. 

I appreciate you as the website owners may have a greater understanding of this than I do, but it may be worth looking further into the legal side of this to make sure you're not at risk of fines going forward and/or users do not find themselves unexpectedly blocked at short notice. Not trying to poke holes here, but in the past two weeks we are seeing restrictions on sites that are not UK based, and photo ID requirements are popping up all over the place. And this is new. 

Oniya

Understood - the reason that it took a few days for your question to be answered was because I was checking with Vekseid.
"Language was invented for one reason, boys - to woo women.~*~*~Don't think it's all been done before
And in that endeavor, laziness will not do." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Don't think we're never gonna win this war
Robin Williams-Dead Poets Society ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Don't think your world's gonna fall apart
I do have a cause, though.  It's obscenity.  I'm for it.  - Tom Lehrer~*~All you need is your beautiful heart
O/O's Updated 5/11/21 - A/A's - Current Status! (Oct 31) - Writing a novel - all draws for Fool of Fire up! Requests closed

MonkeyBee

Thanks! I appreciate that. :)