Ofcom, the UK media regulator, is investigating Onlyfans. The organization considers the measures to verify the age of users insufficient.

Onlyfans is in the crosshairs of the British police. According to ReutersOfcom, the media regulator in the United Kingdom, has opened an investigation into this platform known in particular for pornographic photographs and videos published by content creators in exchange for remuneration.

The British watchdog is trying to determine whether the social network is doing enough to prevent minors from accessing pornography on its platform. At the center of the investigation, measures to verify the age of platform users are considered insufficient.

“After reviewing the submissions we received from Onlyfans in response to formal requests for information, we have reason to suspect that the platform has not implemented its age verification measures in a way that sufficiently protects those under 18 years of age from pornographic material” , the watchdog said.

computer error

Ofcom is also investigating whether Onlyfans complied with its obligations to provide documents and respond to questions in two requests for information issued by Ofcom, in 2022 and 2023.

“Onlyfans works closely with Ofcom to implement and develop best practice in online safety, including the use of age-safe technologies,” an Onlyfans spokesperson told Reuters.

According to her, Onlyfans requires all its users to provide a name and payment card details. The UK-based company also says it uses Yoti, an artificial intelligence technology used to estimate users' ages. The problem is that a computer error would have led to an erroneous report. The document listed an incorrect age threshold of 23, when the company had set it at 20. “OnlyFans discovered the error in the report and proactively amended our report to Ofcom,” the spokesperson added.

Fine of up to 21 million euros

The UK recently introduced new regulations under the Online Safety Act, to prevent children from accessing pornography and harmful content. But those rules won't go into effect until later this year.

Therefore, Ofcom's investigation is carried out within the framework of pre-existing regulations since 2003. The police thus require that platforms take “appropriate measures” to prevent minors under 18 years of age from accessing pornographic material. Under the law, Ofcom can fine companies that fail to comply with these rules up to £18 million, around €21 million, or 10% of their global turnover.

In France, mandatory age verification on pornographic sites is integrated into the law to secure the digital space, definitively adopted in Parliament last April. However, at the moment no reliable technical solution that respects privacy has emerged.