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Age verification on adult websites: the facts

Key facts about age verification on adult websites: In the UK, adult websites have to comply with the Online Safety Act Ofcom is the regulator for online safety in the UK Other countries have introduced or are introducing age verification for adult content There are a number of different age verification methods available Age verification methods operate with the strictest privacy standards Some methods don’t require you to use an identity document     As the internet continues to evolve, concerns about online safety, privacy, and ensuring age-appropriate content have become more important. A widely discussed issue in recent

8 min read
An image of Robin with accompanying text that reads "Thoughts from our CEO, Robin Tombs, January 2025".

Thoughts from our CEO

In this blog series, our CEO Robin Tombs will be sharing his experience, whilst focusing on major themes, news and issues in the world of identity verification and age assurance. This month, Robin talks about the UK’s plan to introduce government-issued digital IDs, his predictions for the UK’s digital ID market, tackling the problem of deepfake porn and online age verification for knife sales.   Initial thoughts about the UK’s rollout of government-issued digital IDs Game-changing news from the UK Government clearly shows that it’s very serious about a digital Britain and reusable digital ID. The positive ramifications for

8 min read
An image showing physical forms of ID (passports and driving licences) on the left-hand side, whilst on the right-hand side is a smartphone displaying a Yoti Digital ID.

Physical IDs vs. Digital IDs: What are the key differences?

Key differences between physical IDs and digital IDs include: Format of the ID Ability to protect personal data (through minimising the data shared) When the ID can be used Differing use cases Who issues the ID Security features and vulnerabilities Regulatory and legal acceptance     Last year, multiple countries made big strides towards accepting digital IDs. Recognising that we live in an increasingly online world, and that fewer people are carrying wallets, more businesses, governments and organisations are choosing to accept digital IDs as a form of identification. Digital IDs and physical IDs serve the same fundamental

9 min read

Yoti responds to Ofcom’s final guidance on highly effective age assurance for Part 5 pornography providers

Ofcom has published the final guidance on highly effective age assurance for (Part 5) providers of pornography, under the Online Safety Act. There are a lot of good principles and effective guidance to ensure children are protected online and there is a clear deadline of July 2025 for all sites (be that pornography sites or social media platforms which allow pornography) to have age verification in place to prevent children from accessing adult content. We are pleased to see that Ofcom has listed several popular age assurance methods, such as facial age estimation, Digital ID wallets, and document verification,

7 min read

Discussion paper: Where in the tech stack should age assurance sit and how should it be done?

This discussion paper discusses where in the tech stack should age assurance checks occur? Should they be on device on a software as a service (SAAS) basis, at operating system level, or at more than one level in the tech stack? Yoti’s view, weighing the factors discussed in this paper, is that the optimal placement of age assurance within the tech stack and consumer journey depends on balancing customer convenience, privacy and operational feasibility. DOWNLOAD

1 min read
A decorative image of various people interacting with their devices and identity documents. The text on the image reads "Predictions: 2025".

What’s in store for 2025

As we get our heads back into work after the festive break, our team has shared a look at what’s coming up in 2025.    A significant year for online safety 2025 will be a year of action. It will be a significant year for online safety, with a number of regulations coming into effect. And they have already started. In Florida, a law came into effect on 1st January requiring social media platforms implement age checks to prevent children under 14 from creating accounts. Additionally, children aged between 14-15 years old must get parental consent to create an

7 min read