The UK seems to be admitting that its plan to bring in age verification to access porn online is more difficult than it expected.

 

The Digital Economy Act was passed by the British Parliament last year, and promised to block X-rated websites from minors using some form of age verification software. 

 

This week, the government revealed it needs to give the British Board of Film Classification more time to hold public discussions about any guidelines it may, eventually, introduce. Initially, the aim was to have a working system in place by April of this year; the new deadline is sometime before the end of 2018.

 

“In February, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) was formally designated as the age-verification regulator.

 

“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. We will therefore allow time for the BBFC as regulator to undertake a public consultation on its draft guidance which will be launched later this month.

 

“For the public and the industry to prepare for and comply with age verification, the government will also ensure a period of up to three months after the BBFC guidance has been cleared by Parliament before the law comes into force. It is anticipated age verification will be enforceable by the end of the year.”

This is all going to cost the UK government a lot of money and it will prove terrible for online adult businesses. And will it actually do what British politicians hope? Within days people will figure out a workaround to anything that stops them from accessing the porn they love.