UK age-verification system delayed ... again

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June 25, 2019 | Online

UK age-verification system delayed ... again

The United Kingdom has had one hell of a time bringing in its age-verification system, designed to keep minors from accessing online porn. And once again, the British government has been forced to delay the project.

The issue this time is that the UK didn't advise the European Union about the plan. And because Britain has not formally left the EU -- something which has also been repeatedly delayed -- it cannot act unilaterally.

The most recent deadline of July 15th has been postponed by 6 months.

“In autumn last year, we laid three instruments before the house,” explained Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Secretary, Jeremy Wright. “One of them sets out standards that companies need to comply with. This should have been notified to the European commission, and it was not. This will result in a delay in the region of six months.”

Wright insisted the government had every intention to follow through with the age-verification system, saying "let me be clear, although this is an apology for the delay, it is not a change in policy."

The delay follows news that, during testing, fake profiles were able to bypass the planned system within minutes.

It's somehow comforting to know that governments around the world are all equally inept.