UK porn block: Anger grows over confusing rollout of ban on free adult sites

'We have consistently flagged privacy and data security issues along with free speech concerns'

(Getty/iStockphoto)

Frustration is continuing to grow with the UK’s new porn blocks, which would ban anyone from watching porn until they publicly proved themselves to be an adult.

The controversial new ban has been worked on for more than a year but is continuing to be delayed as the government attempts to decide how exactly it should be implemented. Now those arguing both for and against the ban have said they are irritated with the continuing mystery surrounded their introduction.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport dismissed earlier reports the measures would come into force from April 1, saying a commencement date will be announced “shortly”.

Rumours had swirled in recent weeks that the blocks could be imminent, after a series of newspapers suggested that the ban would be introduced on 1 April. But that date had never been confirmed, and appears to have emerged amid complete confusion about when they would actually be introduced.

Under the rules, adults will have to prove they are of age to view the content, using one of a number of options, such as an over-the-counter card they can buy from a shop or uploading ID documents online.

In 2018, Digital Minister Margot James said the UK could expect the age verification rules to be in force by Easter this year.

“Age verification measures, urgently needed to help prevent children being exposed to harmful and inappropriate content, need to be brought in as soon as possible,” said Javed Khan, chief executive of children’s charity Barnardo’s.

“Accessing the internet in an age-appropriate way is important for children and young people, and can be a positive opportunity to learn, keep in touch with friends and have fun. But the risks of being exposed to age-sensitive and harmful content such as pornography needs to be acknowledged and addressed.”

The complexity of the matter makes it less frustrating but not surprising, a representative for the UK Safer Internet Centre explained.

“What they are actually proposing to do is quite a bit more difficult and a lot less simple than it has been reported as,” said Carmel Glassbrook, manager of the organisation’s professionals online safety helpline.

“Nobody at the Safer Internet Centre is expecting it be a smooth and fast process at all.”

Meanwhile, opponents of the changes continue to argue their fears for privacy and freedoms online.

“They’ve had over a year to get this right,” said Myles Jackman, a UK lawyer who specialises in obscenity law and sexual freedoms.

“It was supposed to come into effect in April 2018 and we have consistently flagged privacy and data security issues along with free speech concerns.”

Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, added: “The delays have been very much to do with the fact that privacy has been considered at the last minute and they’re having to try to find some way to make these services a bit safer.

“We should know all of the details of what they are proposing.”

Additional reporting by Press Association