UK ISP Internet Porn Ban Potentially Delayed Until Late 2019

The Government has reportedly said that its controversial new internet age verification system – targeted at commercial websites and “apps” that contain pornographic content – might not be enforced on 1st April as predicted last year and may not now be ready until later this year.

The system (see our summary), which would require broadband ISPs to block sites that fail to comply with the rules, has been beset by concerns over weak privacy controls (e.g. handing passports and payment details to companies linked with porn peddlers = incredibly dumb), costs, the impact upon sex workers (i.e. pushing them off-line and back onto the streets), freedom of expression and technical limitations (easy to circumvent).

Meanwhile many have questioned whether it’s even necessary since Sky Broadband, BT, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and other ISPs already offer optional network-level filtering systems, which work just fine. However until now the Government, despite being aware of the flaws in their approach, have continued to target its enforcement for 1st April 2019 (this was already a big delay).

A DCMS Spokesperson said (Standard):

“Our priority is to make the internet safer for children and we believe this is best achieved by taking time to get the implementation of the policy right.

It is anticipated age verification will be enforceable by the end of the year.”

As we understand it the Government still expects to have the new system ready well before the end of this year, although the above statement appears to be an older one and we’re waiting to find out precisely what’s supposed to be happening. Perhaps Brexit has something to do with all this since it seems to be keeping our MPs rather busy.

UPDATE 28th March 2019

The Government informs us that the Standard newspaper was using a very old quote (apparently it was a year out-of-date) and they claim there were never any solid plans for age verification to start in April, despite this being widely reported at the time of the last delay.

As the UK Digital Minister, Margot James, said in 2018: “We expect it to be in force by Easter of next year“. Instead they now plan to announce the commencement date “shortly.”

A DCMS Spokesperson said:

“This is a world-leading step forward to protect our children from adult content which is currently far too easy to access online. The government, and the BBFC as the regulator, have taken the time to get this right and we will announce a commencement date shortly.”