The UK's communications regulator has issued a significant penalty to an adult content provider for failing to protect children online. AVS Group Ltd, which operates a portfolio of 18 pornography websites, has been fined a total of £1.05 million by Ofcom.
Investigation Uncovers Ineffective Age Checks
The bulk of the penalty, a £1 million fine, was imposed because the company's age verification measures were deemed insufficiently robust. A further £50,000 was added for failing to respond to information requests from the watchdog.
This marks the third time Ofcom has used its powers under the Online Safety Act to fine a company since the landmark legislation came into force in July 2025. The Act imposes a legal duty on online services to protect children from harmful content.
While AVS Group claimed to have age verification in place, Ofcom's investigation concluded the measures were not highly effective at preventing under-18s from accessing explicit material.
Daily Penalties and Wider Crackdown
The company now faces a strict deadline to comply. It has been given 72 hours to implement age assurance measures that satisfy the regulator. If it fails, it will incur a daily penalty of £1,000.
Additionally, AVS must pay a £300 daily penalty until it provides the requested information to Ofcom, for a maximum of 60 days.
This action is part of a broader enforcement drive. Ofcom has opened 92 investigations into online services since the new rules began, prioritising sites with millions of UK visitors due to the potential scale of harm.
Regulator and Government Issue Stern Warning
Oliver Griffiths, Ofcom’s Online Safety Group Director, stated that while the tide on online safety is turning, more must be done. "We need to see much more from tech companies next year and we’ll use our full powers if they fall short," he warned.
The regulator also revealed that more than half of the UK's top 100 adult sites have now introduced age checks, alongside platforms like X, TikTok, and Reddit. It noted one major, unnamed social media company could face formal action if it does not improve compliance.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall gave the regulator her full backing, stating: "Keeping children safe online is this government’s and my personal priority." She emphasised that Ofcom has the government's support to use all its powers to ensure user safety comes first.
