LONDON—Ofcom, the digital regulator for the United Kingdom, has fined First Time Videos (FTV) £80,000 for failing to comply with age verification requirements outlined under the Online Safety Act.
FTV is now required to pay the fine, which equals $100,000. FTV is a network of popular membership websites that operates titles like FTVGirls.com and FTVMILFs.com. AVN covered Ofcom's investigation into FTV's compliance prior.
"Age checks are not optional, and are a cornerstone of our laws to protect children from harmful content, including pornography," stated Greg Lusty, the director of enforcement for Ofcom. "We want to send a clear message to the industry that any company which fails to comply can expect to face similar enforcement action.”
According to a press statement published by Ofcom, the penalty of £80,000 will be made to His Majesty's Treasury. Under the Online Safety Act, porn websites are required to implement "highly effective" age-gating to be in compliance. Failure to comply results in fines and potential escalation of the case.
In the same announcement confirming the fine against FTV, Ofcom indicated that it has notified the operator of adult site xgroovy.com that the agency found "reasonable grounds to believe" the site failed to comply with age verification rules.
Ofcom also said it expanded its ongoing investigation into a company known as Sun Social Media Inc.
