AI Nudification Platform Penalised for Child Safety Failures
The company behind an artificial intelligence website that digitally removes clothing from images has been hit with a £50,000 fine from the UK's communications regulator. Ofcom imposed the penalty on Itai Tech Ltd, which operates the Undress.cc platform, for its failure to implement effective age verification systems designed to prevent children from accessing harmful content.
Regulatory Crackdown on Online Safety
This enforcement action represents part of a broader crackdown under the Online Safety Act. Ofcom has simultaneously announced it has opened new investigations into five separate firms that collectively operate 20 pornography websites. The companies now under scrutiny include the providers of sites such as xxbrits, porntrex, fapello.com, and hqporner.com, all concerning potential failures in age assurance measures.
Suzanne Cater, Ofcom's Director of Enforcement, delivered a stern warning to the industry. "The use of highly effective age assurance to protect children from harmful pornographic content is non-negotiable and we will accept no excuses for failure," she stated. "Any service which fails to meet their age-check duties under the Online Safety Act can expect to face robust enforcement action, including significant fines."
Second Major Fine Under New Powers
The penalty against Itai Tech Ltd marks the second fine issued by Ofcom related to the Online Safety Act. Earlier this month, the regulator fined the online platform 4Chan £20,000 for similar breaches. In the case of Undress.cc, Ofcom noted that the company had made its site unavailable to users with UK IP addresses shortly after the investigation began, a factor that was taken into account when determining the final penalty amount.
Additionally, the company received a further £5,000 penalty for failing to comply with a statutory information request from the watchdog. The Undress.cc website specialises in using AI technology to manipulate real images to make subjects appear nude, raising significant concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse against individuals without their consent.
