Ofcom has fined the operator of a pornography site £630,000 for failing to properly verify the age of its users.
Sites that allow adult content, including porn, have had to use “highly effective” age assurance from July 2025 to ensure that UK visitors are 18 or older.
But Ofcom, which enforces these requirements, said the company behind porn site Fapelo had not launched an investigation and had not responded to requests for information in a timely manner.
George Lusty, Ofcom’s director of enforcement, said, “Age checking for porn sites in the UK is no longer optional.”
“They are the cornerstone of our laws to protect children from content they should not be seeing.”
The regulator launched an investigation into the porn site operator in November.
On Thursday, Ofcom said it had fined the company £600,000 for not introducing ways to check the age of users.
After it did not respond in time to its requests for information, Ofcom imposed a further £30,000 fine.
“Providers also need to know that if they do not provide us with accurate information in a timely manner when we request it, they should expect to face enforcement action, including fines,” Lusty said.
Although the site has blocked UK visitors, the regulator says it will continue to monitor its compliance.
