UK's online porn viewer age verification checks delayed

[HEXUS]

Now the porn site visitor age check system is expected to be in place by the end of 2018.

Read more.

[frozen-monkey]

Wonder how GDPR will affect this

[GhostSquirrel]

and so the development of the great firewall of britain continues. literally all this will achieve is pushing traffic from "decent" porn sites to malware infested popup sites that wont implement the checks. This will be a nightmare to police and will make internet security worse for the average joe.

[LSG501]

While I understand the desire to 'protect' under 18's (which is funny considering you can actually legally partake at 16) from seeing porn etc, why is it that everything that is being added seems to be something else that can be used to track a users habits.... just seems another invasion of privacy imo using the excuse of 'protecting children' as justification.

There are so many ways to 'block' access without the need to require the use of an onsite verification process, most isp's already have 'child filters' available, windows (and I assume os-x) has child protection settings and there are plenty of programs out there that can do the same too. At the end of the day a parent should be responsible for stopping their child from seeing things they don't want them to see online.

Why does it come down to basically taking away a users privacy to cater for what is essentially a lack of 21st century parenting skills.

[chinf]

First thing that came to mind with the first graphic was "Civ 6 district plan/cheatsheet"

Back on topic - it's fair enough to try and make sure that there's some sort of barrier to adult-rated content - I think most people will agree that it shouldn't be completely open. However let's be under no illusion that whatever is put in place will inevitably be circumvented with a level of ingenuity well within reach of some minors. As such, it's unacceptable to impose a level of costs (whether our privacy or the money that will be thrown at this) just to solve a problem that should be solved elsewhere.

[Ironbuket]

Im interested in what the checks will actually be and whether a kid going through a mums handbag for some ID wont allow them access anyway. Making people get used to inputting ID to access certain websites is a terrible ideas as it can easily be spoofed and your ID sent to a criminal. It's just like the contactless credit cards, an idea undoes years of trying to get the public to keep their credit card details private and hide their pin only for some idiot to implement an idea full of security holes

[Corky34]

What a colossal waste of money.

[Wrinkly]

I'm a 49yo systems developer. I don't use credit cards or have a passport. I don't even drive as I don't travel well. Even if I did have such 'ID', I certainly wouldn't want to enter any such details to any web site, least of all porn sites.

I am all for protecting children, but that has to start with responsible parenting.

While on that subject, why do we have porn on TV during the small hours in the UK?

[DanceswithUnix]

God news for people selling pre purchase credit cards I guess. And newsagents, they can sell you a magazine for anonymous cash.

[Saracen]

God news for people selling pre purchase credit cards I guess. And newsagents, they can sell you a magazine for anonymous cash.

Not once the government(s) and finance industry get done getting everybody (* bar the obstinate holdouts .... yes, like me) using contactkess cards for micropayments, like coffee or a newspaper. Then ... goodbye insecure (from government perspective) cash. Hello, Big Brother in Finance.

As for prepayment cards, that's easy. A minor statute saying anyone (adult) can buy these .... on production of your government ID. Which you will need to claim benefits, use government services, rent a car, book a hotel, pay your income tax, pay council tax, complete a property transaction, buy shares, vote, open a bank account, eat a non-approved breakfast, fart, .... whatever.

Talking about needing ID to vote, anyone notice that seversl areas are trialling requiring photo ID to vote, this year.

What if you don't have any photo ID?

[Ttaskmaster]

You shouldn't be using porn anyway, you filthy bunch of wotnots...

Only MPs are allowed porn, and then only as part of the strictly regulated tax budget!!

[FRISH]

It should be cancelled instead. No way in hell am I linking such private data in any way to myself. So either it will be ineffective, or too bullish.

[philehidiot]

It should be cancelled instead. No way in hell am I linking such private data in any way to myself. So either it will be ineffective, or too bullish.

Have ANY of these morons heard of Torrent Sites? Or hows about TOR? I have TOR on my bloody phone (for the odd occasion where the UK government decides I can't watch something and d'ya know what, it's always political things they've decided to ban or have companies ban....) This is just the same as the drugs prohibition and alcohol prohibition. Human beings have certain needs which will be fulfilled by whomever is there to provide the market. If you ban drugs then the guy on the street corner will sell them to you, it's just he'll cut it with whatever is under his sink to improve on profit margins after your first deal. If you ban porn then the teenagers will just torrent it or go to dodgy sites with adverts that give you viruses and you'll end up with loads more credit card fraud and them getting exposed to potentially actually damaging stuff (such as kiddy porn or porn that shows women enjoying violence / being hurt) because you've stopped them getting it from a reputable source that actually cares.

Being honest, I have not watched porn for years and have no real need to. As a result, I don't need a virus scanner as (due to my professional registration) everything I do has to be above board. Can't take any risks torrenting a film when piracy could lose you your career. I do accept that most people do use it and that's absolutely fine but to have to hand over personal details to this industry???!!! What about the Ashley Maddison lessons? I think teenagers will generally get past any "safeguards" you put in place either by bypassing them or using an alternative source. Adults are just going to get blackmailed because they enjoy something kinky.

[johnroe]

Yes I pretty much agree with what's been said, this is a parenting issue. The government shouldn't be policing the internet. I see all the moves they are making to control and collect information, I think that will result in most using TOR.

[DanceswithUnix]

Yes I pretty much agree with what's been said, this is a parenting issue. The government shouldn't be policing the internet. I see all the moves they are making to control and collect information, I think that will result in most using TOR.

In a way, that is punishing the kids for their lame parents, which also doesn't seem fair.

Perhaps they should just state that all pr0n actresses have to be digitally "enhanced" to look like Theresa May. That should cut out under age viewing, well any viewing really.

(apologies if anyone has just eaten for the mental image )

[Friesiansam]

This will be a handy boost for the VPN companies.