Overview

• X says the law’s broad scope and strict deadlines are prompting platforms to censor lawful content out of fear of Ofcom fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue.
• Since July 25, mandatory age verification has gone live on high-risk sites with AI-driven selfies, email checks and official ID uploads, triggering an 1,800% surge in VPN downloads.
• Ofcom has opened investigations into four companies operating 34 pornography sites to assess compliance, warning that serious infringers could be blocked from the UK.
• More than 468,000 people have signed a petition calling for repeal, and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has defended the law as essential to protecting children from online harms.
• Civil liberties advocates warn that a new National Internet Intelligence Investigations team in the British Police will intensify social media monitoring, raising privacy and free-speech concerns.