Almost half of adults in the UK who view pornography have accessed adult websites without the required age verification checks since the new law came into force, a major survey has found. The research highlights a significant loophole in the government's attempt to protect children online, with many adults actively circumventing the safeguards.
Widespread Avoidance of Age Verification
According to a poll commissioned by the child protection charity, the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, 45% of the 1,469 adult pornography users surveyed admitted to visiting sites that do not enforce age checks. This deliberate move allows them to avoid submitting personal information to verify they are over 18.
The study, conducted in November 2025 with 3,724 adults, also uncovered that 29% of users have employed a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to mask their location. By appearing to browse from another country, they can bypass age checks on websites that do implement them.
Turning to Riskier Platforms and Harmful Content
The charity is now issuing a stark warning. It states that adults who are unwilling to share their identity are being driven towards less regulated and riskier websites. On these platforms, they are far more likely to encounter illegal content, including images of child sexual abuse.
Alexandra Bailey, head of psychology at the foundation and an associate professor at the University of Roehampton, explained the severe risks. "These sites can expose people to harmful material, including illegal content depicting child sexual abuse," she said. "Even if you're not looking for it, you could encounter it - and that can have serious, life-changing consequences."
The survey data supports this concern, showing that 39% of visitors to unregulated porn sites reported seeing content that made them uncomfortable, with 40% deciding not to return to the same site.
Calls for Tougher Enforcement and Legislation
The rules, introduced under the Online Safety Act (OSA) last year, mandate that pornography sites implement robust age verification to prevent children from accessing harmful material. Enforcement action has begun, with regulator Ofcom fining the AVS group, which runs 18 adult websites, £1 million in December 2025 for inadequate age checks, plus a further £50,000 for non-cooperation.
However, campaigners argue this is not enough. The Internet Watch Foundation is calling for even stronger laws to mirror offline restrictions on adult material. Its chief executive, Kerry Smith, said it is "highly concerning" that age verification is not being universally implemented.
"Safeguards on pornography sites are essential to protect children from accessing pornography, which we know, if viewed at a young age, can normalise harmful sexual behaviours," Smith added. She urged strong enforcement of the OSA and for the government to introduce "even more robust legislation."
An Ofcom spokesperson acknowledged progress but emphasised the need for more action from tech firms: "Change is happening, and the tide on online safety is beginning to turn for the better... But we need to see much more from tech companies this year, and we'll use our full powers if they fall short."
