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UK’s New Child Safety Rules Set to Challenge Age Verification Process on X
New rules from the UK’s communications regulator will challenge the way Elon Musk’s X platform and others handle age verification and pornographic content on their platforms.
Ofcom unveiled on Thursday the final draft of its children’s safety codes designed to protect users under the age of 18 from harmful content. The rules require social media services such as X to prevent children from seeing pornography by implementing “highly effective” age checks no later than July.
X is unique among mainstream social networks in that it allows users to post content that includes nudity and sexual behavior. Rivals such as Meta Platforms Inc.’s Facebook and Instagram explicitly ban pornographic material. While X says that it restricts this type of content to users who say they’re over 18, there aren’t additional checks that would prevent someone from misrepresenting their age.
Ofcom suggests platforms verify ages by checking with banks or mobile network operators, or using photo-ID matching or facial-age-estimating software.
“If services have minimum age requirements but are not using strong age checks, they must assume younger children are on their service and ensure they have an age-appropriate experience,” Ofcom said in the guidance.
A representative for X didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Musk has said repeatedly that he believes X should allow all content as long as it’s lawful. X blocks users who list their age as under 18 or who haven’t provided a birth date from viewing adult content, according to the company’s policy. It also allows adult users to opt out of seeing the posts.
A spokesperson for Ofcom said that the new measures “will go beyond current industry standards and lead to children living safer lives online. If we do not see meaningful changes from industry, companies can expect enforcement action.”
The rules set up another potential clash between Musk and European regulators over content moderation. The EU is investigating X for violations of the Digital Service Act, which also requires platforms to tackle illegal content and disinformation. Musk has previously said on X that he will fight a DSA fine through “a very public battle in court.”
Ofcom’s child safety measures are part of the Online Safety Act, a broader clampdown on digital abuse, fraud and “harmful content,” which came into force at the end of 2023 and is being rolled out on an ongoing basis. The child safety regulation is meant to protect children from encountering a range of harmful topics online including suicide, eating disorders and self harm.
Platforms — including social networks, search engines and video games — will be obligated under the rules to conduct broad assessments of the potential risks that their services pose to children. They’ll also have to have a named executive accountable for children’s safety, give children broad control over who can invite them to chats or comment on their posts and have systems in place that make it easy for users to report inappropriate posts.
“The major point is that now platforms will have to build with safety in mind,” said Lina Ghazal, head of regulatory and public affairs at Verifymy, an identity verification service.
Any app or site not in compliance with the measures could be subject to enforcement action, including fines and court orders that would prevent them from being accessed in the UK.
Regulators trying to increase moderation on some areas of the internet increasingly have come into conflict with politicians and influencers who decry such efforts as impeding free speech. Some sites known for hosting conspiracies and coordinated harassment campaigns have recently chosen to exit the UK rather than comply with Ofcom’s latest changes.
Gab, one of the sites used to plan the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, is broadcasting a message saying it will shut down in Britain in the face of “unacceptable legal and compliance risks.” Kiwi Farms, a haven for organizing so-called swatting attacks, and Bitchute, which hosts incendiary videos, have also signaled they will cease operations in the UK amid the rules.
Musk repeatedly criticized UK authorities last year amid a series of violent demonstrations through the country that were caused in part by the spread of online misinformation. Officials prosecuted people in Britain for posting hateful speech around the riots, which began after a deadly stabbing attack in Southport, England. US Vice President JD Vance echoed Musk’s sentiments during a February meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
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