United Kingdom: Office of Communications adopted guidance on highly effective age assurance and other Part 5 duties

On 16 January 2025, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) issued statutory guidance to assist providers of internet services who display or publish their own pornographic content in complying with their regulatory duties set out in Section 81 under Part 5 of the Online Safety Act 2023. The guidance mandates the use of highly effective age assurance methods, such as age verification or estimation, to prevent children from accessing such content. It outlines criteria for assessing whether a service falls within scope, specifies requirements for robust and fair age assurance processes, and emphasises the need for compliance records that are durable, accessible, and protect user privacy. The guidance also addresses the application of these duties to generative AI tools used for creating pornographic content, requiring safeguards to prevent misuse. These measures aim to ensure children in the UK are not normally able to encounter regulated provider pornographic content. The duties come into effect on 17 January 2025.