UK Governments Porn Age Verification Scheme

**VintageKell** · February 21st, 2016, 07:42 AM

The UK Government has launched a consultation on its proposal to make users of sites such as this, provide 'proof of age'. Ostensibly this is to stop children using UK server based porn sites.

Sounds reasonable doesn't it?

But consider this:

1) Any proof of age will almost certainly include proof of identity.
2) Its also likely to be your credit card (as the easiest method from the governments point of view).

This means that site users will:

No longer be largely anonymous.
Be trackable by any authority the government allows. In the past this has included groups such as the security services, the police, and even local councils.
Possibly passing their credit cards to porn sites (do you really trust all those sites around the globe?) leaving them open to both:

1. Identity Fraud, and,
2. Possible Blackmail

In fact once you consider these issues, then this attempt to stop badly parented children looking at inappropriate material online, starts to look rather more like mass surveillance of the UK's population - making us the most tracked net-citizens in the world outside of North Korea, and China.

If like me, you want to make your views on this matter known to the UK government, then you can do so (ironically anonymously ) in the following ways:

Via a dedicated survey: This, as well as further information including the Report of the Expert Panel for DCMS, can be accessed at:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/child-safety-online-age-verification-for-pornography

The full consultation document can be seen there. The preferred method of capturing your responses to the consultation questions is via the dedicated online survey. Please click on this link to share your views.

If you would like to submit material that cannot be uploaded to the website, please send to the addresses on the web page.

spoonman2 · February 21st, 2016, 11:12 AM

It's not really about protecting children. It's just Puritans trying to kill porn, or access to porn, by salami slicing. The basic policies are coming from various feminist-driven pressure groups (e.g. the NSPCC) and the little-known quango ATVOD, who are a sub-quango of OFCOM, who were simply granted authority over all internet video by the enabling act that enables OFCOM itself. It was they that in another salami slicing move decided that it would be illegal to pay for porn with a debit card, "because some people under 18 have debit cards".

This sort of shit makes me ashamed to be British. We put up with the most terrible governance, we succumb too easily to control by moral panic. That is why we were the most sexually censored "free" country when everyone else legalised hardcore porn, and why we are now going to be again.

The only real hope here is that the generation who have already grown up with a free internet, and thus are not scared of it, will finally get rid of all this nonsense when they are the socially and politically dominant generation.

**steamjon** · February 21st, 2016, 06:52 PM

Would this just drive people to circumvent rules to use VPNs or even the dark web?

**Sharkhunter** · February 21st, 2016, 07:40 PM

Another sledgehammer being brought down on this tiny nut.

The only people affected by this will be law-abiding viewers of pornographic material, while criminals will just carry on as before. Meanwhile, kids will always find ways of locating and watching stuff they shouldn't, no matter what measures are in place.

It's not for protecting children - this, like many other things, is a false flag.

**Sir Honkers** · February 21st, 2016, 08:18 PM

If it's like similar endeavours that came and went in Australia, it's just huff and puff to satisfy vocal constituents. The difficulty of actually doing it has always killed it off.
And speaking for myself, I'm more concerned about them stopping my illegitimate right to be a pirate than I am them stopping my looking at boobies.

spoonman2 · February 21st, 2016, 08:27 PM

No, this is more serious than what's happened in Australia, mainly because our government has extremely effective control mechanisms in place via the law, OFCOM/ATVOD, CleanFeed, etc. They can and will make this stick. Do not dismiss it as irrelevant.

vintagenudeman · February 21st, 2016, 09:54 PM

they are like 1984 of Orwell : Do you remember the antisex league ?

**Sir Honkers** · February 22nd, 2016, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoonman2

No, this is more serious than what's happened in Australia, mainly because our government has extremely effective control mechanisms in place via the law, OFCOM/ATVOD, CleanFeed, etc. They can and will make this stick. Do not dismiss it as irrelevant.

It doesn't effect me, therefore by definition, it is irrelevant

**deepsepia** · February 22nd, 2016, 11:54 AM

This is worrisome. What we've seen is that people are living important parts of their lives digitally. Its how they read and how they meet and converse about the things they like.

I don't have a problem with proof of age that is not also proof of identity; but its hard to specify what proof of age isn't also proof of identity.

We've had significant problems in the US with adult performers being harassed by stalkers who became aware of their personal details (true names, addresses) by the 2257 disclosures that adult websites have to maintain.

mrfin · February 22nd, 2016, 12:08 PM

pathetic really but how in the name of flat earth is the uk goverment going to identify and then tag a site as a 'porn' site. Just the big sites?

This is as well as they havnt stated how someone will be able to identify as 18+ officially yet.

Could be a total farce of a tick im over 18+ or the great uk firewall will just add porno sites. Either way its a rushed out headline grabbing idea that has no hope of doing what it aims to do and ends up being complete waste of time.

February 21st, 2016, 07:42 AM	#1
VintageKell Vintage Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Underground in the Mountains of Madness Posts: 2,790 Thanks: 1,012 Thanked 96,982 Times in 2,804 Posts	UK Governments Porn Age Verification Scheme The UK Government has launched a consultation on its proposal to make users of sites such as this, provide 'proof of age'. Ostensibly this is to stop children using UK server based porn sites. Sounds reasonable doesn't it? But consider this: 1) Any proof of age will almost certainly include proof of identity. 2) Its also likely to be your credit card (as the easiest method from the governments point of view). This means that site users will: No longer be largely anonymous. Be trackable by any authority the government allows. In the past this has included groups such as the security services, the police, and even local councils. Possibly passing their credit cards to porn sites (do you really trust all those sites around the globe?) leaving them open to both: 1. Identity Fraud, and, 2. Possible Blackmail In fact once you consider these issues, then this attempt to stop badly parented children looking at inappropriate material online, starts to look rather more like mass surveillance of the UK's population - making us the most tracked net-citizens in the world outside of North Korea, and China. If like me, you want to make your views on this matter known to the UK government, then you can do so (ironically anonymously ) in the following ways: Via a dedicated survey: This, as well as further information including the Report of the Expert Panel for DCMS, can be accessed at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/child-safety-online-age-verification-for-pornography The full consultation document can be seen there. The preferred method of capturing your responses to the consultation questions is via the dedicated online survey. Please click on this link to share your views. If you would like to submit material that cannot be uploaded to the website, please send to the addresses on the web page. Last edited by VintageKell; February 21st, 2016 at 08:46 AM.. Reason: Mod edit note: email address and postal address removed

February 21st, 2016, 07:40 PM	#4
Sharkhunter Gusset Man & Jizzmaster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wanking, but not the city in China Posts: 2,037 Thanks: 5,197 Thanked 34,660 Times in 2,021 Posts	Another sledgehammer being brought down on this tiny nut. The only people affected by this will be law-abiding viewers of pornographic material, while criminals will just carry on as before. Meanwhile, kids will always find ways of locating and watching stuff they shouldn't, no matter what measures are in place. It's not for protecting children - this, like many other things, is a false flag. __________________ "Birth Control Tip #2431: Shoot your load in a girl's mouth or on her face instead of inside her sweet bits. Result: no expensive burden, stretch marks or saggy tits". To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

February 21st, 2016, 09:54 PM	#7
vintagenudeman Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 33 Thanks: 47 Thanked 275 Times in 28 Posts	they are like 1984 they are like 1984 of Orwell : Do you remember the antisex league ?

February 21st, 2016, 11:12 AM	#2
spoonman2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 127 Thanks: 904 Thanked 1,640 Times in 114 Posts	It's not really about protecting children. It's just Puritans trying to kill porn, or access to porn, by salami slicing. The basic policies are coming from various feminist-driven pressure groups (e.g. the NSPCC) and the little-known quango ATVOD, who are a sub-quango of OFCOM, who were simply granted authority over all internet video by the enabling act that enables OFCOM itself. It was they that in another salami slicing move decided that it would be illegal to pay for porn with a debit card, "because some people under 18 have debit cards". This sort of shit makes me ashamed to be British. We put up with the most terrible governance, we succumb too easily to control by moral panic. That is why we were the most sexually censored "free" country when everyone else legalised hardcore porn, and why we are now going to be again. The only real hope here is that the generation who have already grown up with a free internet, and thus are not scared of it, will finally get rid of all this nonsense when they are the socially and politically dominant generation.

February 21st, 2016, 06:52 PM	#3
steamjon Vintage Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,109 Thanks: 6,188 Thanked 22,399 Times in 1,260 Posts	Would this just drive people to circumvent rules to use VPNs or even the dark web?

February 21st, 2016, 08:18 PM	#5
Sir Honkers Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Land Of Glorious Leader Posts: 30,354 Thanks: 286,908 Thanked 386,225 Times in 30,305 Posts	If it's like similar endeavours that came and went in Australia, it's just huff and puff to satisfy vocal constituents. The difficulty of actually doing it has always killed it off. And speaking for myself, I'm more concerned about them stopping my illegitimate right to be a pirate than I am them stopping my looking at boobies.

February 21st, 2016, 08:27 PM	#6
spoonman2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 127 Thanks: 904 Thanked 1,640 Times in 114 Posts	No, this is more serious than what's happened in Australia, mainly because our government has extremely effective control mechanisms in place via the law, OFCOM/ATVOD, CleanFeed, etc. They can and will make this stick. Do not dismiss it as irrelevant.

February 22nd, 2016, 11:54 AM	#9
deepsepia Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Upper left corner Posts: 7,205 Thanks: 47,957 Thanked 83,444 Times in 7,199 Posts	This is worrisome. What we've seen is that people are living important parts of their lives digitally. Its how they read and how they meet and converse about the things they like. I don't have a problem with proof of age that is not also proof of identity; but its hard to specify what proof of age isn't also proof of identity. We've had significant problems in the US with adult performers being harassed by stalkers who became aware of their personal details (true names, addresses) by the 2257 disclosures that adult websites have to maintain.

February 22nd, 2016, 12:08 PM	#10
mrfin Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: hovel + Posts: 368 Thanks: 13,746 Thanked 6,790 Times in 352 Posts	pathetic really but how in the name of flat earth is the uk goverment going to identify and then tag a site as a 'porn' site. Just the big sites? This is as well as they havnt stated how someone will be able to identify as 18+ officially yet. Could be a total farce of a tick im over 18+ or the great uk firewall will just add porno sites. Either way its a rushed out headline grabbing idea that has no hope of doing what it aims to do and ends up being complete waste of time.