{"generated":"2026-09-06","source":"https://agecheckindex.co.uk/methodology/","licence":"Facts quoted from published sources, compiled by UK Age Check Index. Cite the source_url and last_verified on each row; not legal advice.","events":[{"date":"2026-10-01","when":"October 2026","upcoming":true,"kind":"regulation","title":"Ofcom rapid assessment to Parliament on highly effective age assurance for 16+","summary":"Requested alongside the under-16 ban announcement. Every social-media entry on this site is affected by the outcome.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/use-of-age-assurance-report-2026","source_title":"Ofcom"},{"date":"2026-10-15","when":"October 2026","upcoming":true,"kind":"enforcement","title":"First update on Ofcom's TikTok age-inference investigation","summary":"Expected around October 2026 per Ofcom's announcement.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/investigation-into-tiktoks-compliance-with-duties-to-protect-children-from-encountering-harmful-content-under-section-12","source_title":"Ofcom","service_ids":["tiktok"]},{"date":"2026-10-31","when":"By end of October 2026","upcoming":true,"kind":"regulation","title":"Ofcom and ICO report on detecting and preventing VPN use around age checks","summary":"Announced on 16 July 2026 when the government decided not to limit VPNs. This site will record what the report says; it will not add VPN content.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/use-of-age-assurance-report-2026","source_title":"Ofcom"},{"date":"2026-11-01","when":"Autumn 2026","upcoming":true,"kind":"government","title":"Certified digital IDs accepted for alcohol sales in England and Wales","summary":"Subject to Parliament approving the amended Mandatory Licensing Conditions. The same vendors (Yoti, Post Office EasyID) are involved.","source_url":"https://www.biometricupdate.com/202606/uk-pubs-to-accept-digital-id","source_title":"Biometric Update"},{"date":"2026-12-31","when":"By end of 2026","upcoming":true,"kind":"government","title":"Under-16 social media regulations laid under section 214A","summary":"Regulations promised before Christmas 2026; Discord's global age-assurance rollout with k-ID and Veratad is also expected in the second half of 2026.","source_url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-to-be-banned-for-under-16s","source_title":"gov.uk"},{"date":"2027-01-31","when":"January 2027","upcoming":true,"kind":"regulation","title":"Ofcom statutory report on app-store age assurance","summary":"Covers Apple's and Google's app-store protections and the age-range APIs.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/use-of-age-assurance-report-2026","source_title":"Ofcom","vendor_ids":["apple","google"]},{"date":"2027-04-01","when":"Spring 2027","upcoming":true,"kind":"government","title":"Under-16 social media restrictions targeted to come into force","summary":"The largest change to UK age checks since July 2025.","source_url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-to-be-banned-for-under-16s","source_title":"gov.uk"},{"date":"2026-09-03","kind":"enforcement","title":"xgroovy.com fined £730,000; provisional decisions issued to Cyberitic and ZD Media","summary":"£700,000 plus £30,000.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2026-08-31","kind":"service","title":"Grindr updates its UK age assurance help article","summary":"Video selfie, or selfie plus ID, with FaceTec liveness; Grindr states documents and videos are deleted after the check.","source_url":"https://www.grindr.com/blog/age-assurance-in-the-uk","source_title":"Grindr","service_ids":["grindr"]},{"date":"2026-07-31","kind":"enforcement","title":"Novi Ltd (joi.com) investigation closed","summary":"Closed as no longer an administrative priority after age assurance was implemented.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/investigation-into-novi-ltds-compliance-with-the-duty-to-prevent-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom"},{"date":"2026-07-16","kind":"enforcement","title":"Ofcom opens a section 12 investigation into TikTok's age inference; government rules out limiting VPNs for now","summary":"First update on the TikTok investigation expected around October 2026. Ofcom and the ICO are to report by the end of October 2026 on how platforms can detect and prevent VPN use to reach age-gated content.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/investigation-into-tiktoks-compliance-with-duties-to-protect-children-from-encountering-harmful-content-under-section-12","source_title":"Ofcom","service_ids":["tiktok"]},{"date":"2026-07-15","kind":"regulation","title":"Ofcom publishes its statutory Report on the use of age assurance","summary":"More than 69 million checks across a 32-service sample between July and December 2025 (the 32 names are redacted). Facial age estimation the most-offered method, then photo ID. Children encountering highly effective age assurance rose from 25% to 43%. 23 investigations, 7 providers fined, £4.955 million in total. Age inference is not a highly effective method and must be replaced or supplemented without delay.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/use-of-age-assurance-report-2026","source_title":"Ofcom"},{"date":"2026-07-08","kind":"enforcement","title":"fapello.com fined £630,000","summary":"£600,000 plus £30,000. One research source still lists this investigation as open from 12 May 2026; the fine is recorded from the other. Confirm on Ofcom's register.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2026-06-30","kind":"government","title":"Written statement HCWS160: certified digital IDs to be accepted for alcohol sales","summary":"The Mandatory Licensing Conditions are to be amended so that digital IDs certified under the Digital Verification Services framework are accepted, target autumn 2026.","source_url":"https://www.biometricupdate.com/202606/uk-pubs-to-accept-digital-id","source_title":"Biometric Update (statement page blocked to the fetcher)"},{"date":"2026-06-18","kind":"enforcement","title":"First Time Videos LLC fined £80,000","summary":"Under section 81.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2026-06-16","kind":"enforcement","title":"Investigation opened into Bit Hive (eporner)","summary":"Part 5 age-assurance investigation.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2026-06-15","kind":"government","title":"Government announces a social media ban for under-16s","summary":"Named: Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. Messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal excluded. Regulations to be laid before the end of 2026, in force in spring 2027.","source_url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-to-be-banned-for-under-16s","source_title":"gov.uk","service_ids":["snapchat","tiktok","youtube","x-twitter"]},{"date":"2026-06-01","kind":"service","title":"PlayStation's UK and Ireland age check becomes mandatory for chat, parties and broadcasting","summary":"Mobile contract check, facial estimation or ID through Yoti. FAQ updated this date.","source_url":"https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/support/account/age-verification-faq/","source_title":"PlayStation support","service_ids":["playstation"],"vendor_ids":["yoti"]},{"date":"2026-05-26","kind":"enforcement","title":"Youngtek Solutions Ltd fined £600,000","summary":"£500,000 plus £100,000.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2026-05-06","kind":"service","title":"Tumblr gates mature-labelled content for UK users through k-ID","summary":"ID, on-device face scan, bank check (ConnectID) or AgeKey.","source_url":"https://changes.tumblr.com/post/815889531565916160","source_title":"Tumblr changes","service_ids":["tumblr"],"vendor_ids":["k-id"]},{"date":"2026-05-05","kind":"service","title":"Aylo returns for UK iOS users via Apple's device check; Meta announces AI age assurance","summary":"Aylo accepts Apple's device-level signal on iOS only. Meta describes age assurance from text and visual signals with correction through Yoti or ID.","source_url":"https://about.fb.com/news/2026/05/ai-age-assurance-teens","source_title":"Meta newsroom","service_ids":["aylo-pornhub"],"vendor_ids":["apple","yoti"],"adult":true},{"date":"2026-04-29","kind":"regulation","title":"Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 receives Royal Assent","summary":"Section 70 inserts section 214A into the Online Safety Act: a power for ministers to require providers to prevent or restrict children's access. In force at Royal Assent.","source_url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/section/70","source_title":"legislation.gov.uk"},{"date":"2026-03-25","kind":"regulation","title":"Ofcom and ICO joint statement on age assurance; Apple's UK device-level age check ships in iOS 26.4","summary":"The joint statement says methods must be necessary, effective for the purpose and proportionate to the level of risk. Apple's check uses a credit card, account information or an ID scan; Ofcom welcomed it, the Age Verification Providers Association disputes that it meets the highly-effective standard.","source_url":"https://www.biometricupdate.com/202603/apple-makes-age-filters-default-for-uk-iphone-users","source_title":"Biometric Update","service_ids":["apple-device"],"vendor_ids":["apple"]},{"date":"2026-03-25","kind":"vendor","title":"Spanish data protection authority (AEPD) fines Yoti €950,000","summary":"€500,000 for unlawful biometric processing, €200,000 for invalid consent, €250,000 for excessive retention. Yoti rejects the decision and is appealing. The two research reports give the decision date as 10 March and 25 March 2026; the AEPD resolution itself was not fetched.","source_url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoti","source_title":"Wikipedia (secondary)","vendor_ids":["yoti"]},{"date":"2026-03-19","kind":"enforcement","title":"4chan fined £520,000","summary":"£450,000 for age-check failures plus £50,000 and £20,000; daily penalties from 2 April 2026. 4chan has said it will not pay.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2026-03-12","kind":"enforcement","title":"Ofcom and the ICO write to Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Roblox and X","summary":"The services must enforce their minimum ages with highly effective age assurance and report by 30 April 2026. One research source dates the letters 13 March and omits X.","source_url":"https://www.lewissilkin.com/insights/2026/03/12","source_title":"Lewis Silkin summary","service_ids":["tiktok","youtube","snapchat","roblox","x-twitter"]},{"date":"2026-03-02","kind":"government","title":"Government launches the \"Growing up in the online world\" consultation","summary":"Consultation CP 1528 on children's access to social media, closing 26 May 2026.","source_url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/section/70","source_title":"legislation.gov.uk (explanatory note)"},{"date":"2026-02-24","kind":"enforcement","title":"ICO fines Reddit £14.47 million; Discord drops Persona and delays its global rollout","summary":"ICO: no lawful basis for under-13 data, no data protection impact assessment before January 2025, self-declaration only until July 2025. Discord ends its Persona trial after a researcher reported an exposed Persona front end and moves to k-ID and Veratad.","source_url":"https://www.osborneclarke.com/","source_title":"Osborne Clarke summary (ICO page blocked to the fetcher)","service_ids":["reddit","discord"],"vendor_ids":["persona","k-id","veratad"]},{"date":"2026-02-20","kind":"enforcement","title":"8579 LLC fined £1,400,000","summary":"£1,350,000 under section 12 plus £50,000, with £1,000 a day until compliant.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2026-02-11","kind":"enforcement","title":"Kick Online Entertainment S.A. (motherless.com) fined £830,000","summary":"£800,000 under section 12 plus £30,000; non-compliance from 25 July to 29 December 2025. Not the Kick streaming service.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2026-02-02","kind":"service","title":"Aylo blocks new UK users","summary":"Existing verified accounts keep access; new UK visitors are blocked (an iOS route returned on 5 May 2026).","source_url":"https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/02/uk/uk-pornography-restricted-access-intl","source_title":"CNN","service_ids":["aylo-pornhub"],"adult":true},{"date":"2026-01-15","kind":"enforcement","title":"Investigation opened into Novi Ltd (joi.com)","summary":"Under sections 12 and 36. Closed on 31 July 2026 after age assurance was implemented.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/investigation-into-novi-ltds-compliance-with-the-duty-to-prevent-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom"},{"date":"2026-01-12","kind":"enforcement","title":"Ofcom opens an investigation into X over Grok imagery, including its age assurance","summary":"The investigation covers whether X used highly effective age assurance.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/ofcom-launches-investigation-into-x-over-grok-sexualised-imagery","source_title":"Ofcom","service_ids":["x-twitter"]},{"date":"2026-01-07","kind":"service","title":"Roblox requires an age check to use chat, worldwide","summary":"Persona facial age estimation or ID.","source_url":"https://about.roblox.com/newsroom/2026/01/roblox-age-checks-required-to-chat","source_title":"Roblox newsroom","service_ids":["roblox"],"vendor_ids":["persona"]},{"date":"2025-12-04","kind":"government","title":"House of Lords debate: children, age verification and virtual private networks","summary":"Debate on whether further measures on VPNs are needed. The Hansard page was not readable by this site's fetcher; listed from the research index.","source_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/","source_title":"Hansard"},{"date":"2025-12-03","kind":"enforcement","title":"AVS Group Ltd (18 sites) fined £1,050,000","summary":"£1,000,000 under section 12 plus £50,000, with £1,000 a day from 6 December 2025 until compliant.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2025-11-19","kind":"enforcement","title":"Itai Tech Ltd fined £55,000; provisional decisions issued to 8579 LLC and Kick Online Entertainment","summary":"£50,000 under section 81 and £5,000 under section 102(8).","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2025-10-30","kind":"government","title":"Government: no current plans to ban VPNs","summary":"A minister says there are no current plans to ban the use of VPNs but that nothing is off the table.","source_url":"https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/","source_title":"Press reports (LBC, Yahoo)"},{"date":"2025-10-13","kind":"enforcement","title":"4chan fined £20,000 for ignoring information requests","summary":"The first fine under the Online Safety Act, for failing to respond to Ofcom's requests.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2025-09-16","kind":"service","title":"Twitch begins on-device face-scan checks through k-ID","summary":"Optional from this date for streams with mature content labels; mandatory from 13 November 2025.","source_url":"https://k-id.com/news-posts/twitch","source_title":"k-ID","service_ids":["twitch"],"vendor_ids":["k-id"]},{"date":"2025-09-15","kind":"government","title":"House of Lords debate on VPNs and age checks","summary":"A minister states that services promoting VPN use to defeat age checks could face enforcement action. The duty in question binds regulated services.","source_url":"https://www.mishcon.com/news/online-safety-act-vpns-and-age-verification","source_title":"Mishcon de Reya summary"},{"date":"2025-08-29","kind":"service","title":"Steam requires a stored credit card for mature content in the UK","summary":"Debit cards are not accepted; the account counts as verified while a valid credit card is stored.","source_url":"https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/you-now-need-a-credit-card-to-access-mature-content-on-steam-in-the-uk","source_title":"Game Developer","service_ids":["steam"]},{"date":"2025-07-31","kind":"enforcement","title":"Investigations opened into AVS Group, Kick Online Entertainment, 8579 LLC, Trendio and Duplanto","summary":"Part 5 investigations following the 25 July commencement.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2025-07-28","kind":"service","title":"Xbox announces UK age verification through Yoti; Telegram launches its UK age-verification bot","summary":"Xbox: optional from this date, mandatory in early 2026 for chat, invites, LFG and clubs. Telegram: on-device face scan for the sensitive-content setting, UK only.","source_url":"https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/07/28/xbox-age-verification-uk/","source_title":"Xbox Wire","service_ids":["xbox","telegram"],"vendor_ids":["yoti"]},{"date":"2025-07-25","kind":"regulation","title":"Part 3 children's safety duties in force; enforcement of age checks begins","summary":"Highly effective age assurance required for pornography on user-to-user services. Dating apps including Tinder and Grindr begin gating UK users the same day.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme","service_ids":["tinder","grindr"]},{"date":"2025-07-24","kind":"service","title":"Aylo (Pornhub, YouPorn, RedTube) gates its UK sites","summary":"Email estimation, credit card, mobile operator and open banking offered; Google Wallet added 5 August 2025.","source_url":"https://www.aylo.com/newsroom/aylo-upgrades-age-assurance-methods-in-united-kingdom/","source_title":"Aylo newsroom","service_ids":["aylo-pornhub"],"adult":true},{"date":"2025-07-14","kind":"service","title":"Reddit's UK age check goes live with Persona","summary":"Selfie estimation or photo ID before viewing mature communities.","source_url":"https://www.biometricupdate.com/202507/reddit-deploys-selfie-and-document-age-verification-from-persona","source_title":"Biometric Update","service_ids":["reddit"],"vendor_ids":["persona"]},{"date":"2025-07-10","kind":"service","title":"Bluesky announces UK age assurance through Epic's Kids Web Services","summary":"Adult content and direct messages switched off for UK users until a check is completed by credit card, ID or facial estimation.","source_url":"https://bsky.social/about/blog/07-10-2025-age-assurance","source_title":"Bluesky","service_ids":["bluesky"],"vendor_ids":["epic-kws"]},{"date":"2025-05-09","kind":"enforcement","title":"First Part 5 age-assurance investigations opened","summary":"Ofcom opens investigations into Itai Tech Ltd (Undress.cc) and Score Internet Group.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/enforcement-programme-to-protect-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance","source_title":"Ofcom enforcement programme"},{"date":"2025-04-16","kind":"regulation","title":"Deadline for children's access assessments under Part 3","summary":"User-to-user and search services had to assess whether children are likely to access them.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/category-1-10-weeks/statement-age-assurance-and-childrens-access/guidance-on-highly-effective-age-assurance-and-other-part-5-duties.pdf","source_title":"Ofcom guidance (PDF)"},{"date":"2025-03-27","kind":"enforcement","title":"Ofcom fines the provider of OnlyFans £1.05 million","summary":"The provider gave Ofcom inaccurate information about the challenge age used in its facial age estimation (20 rather than 23).","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/ofcom-fines-provider-of-onlyfans-1.05-million","source_title":"Ofcom","service_ids":["onlyfans"],"adult":true},{"date":"2025-01-17","kind":"regulation","title":"Part 5 duty in force for services publishing their own pornographic content","summary":"Providers of such content must use highly effective age assurance from this date.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/category-1-10-weeks/statement-age-assurance-and-childrens-access/guidance-on-highly-effective-age-assurance-and-other-part-5-duties.pdf","source_title":"Ofcom guidance (PDF)"},{"date":"2025-01-16","kind":"regulation","title":"Ofcom publishes its statement on age assurance and the guidance on highly effective age assurance","summary":"Seven methods are listed as capable of being highly effective: open banking, photo-ID matching, facial age estimation, mobile-network operator checks, credit card checks, email-based estimation and digital identity services. Self-declaration and payment methods not restricted to adults are not capable.","source_url":"https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/category-1-10-weeks/statement-age-assurance-and-childrens-access/guidance-on-highly-effective-age-assurance-and-other-part-5-duties.pdf","source_title":"Ofcom guidance (PDF)"},{"date":"2023-12-18","kind":"vendor","title":"Google receives an ACCS certificate for facial age estimation","summary":"Certificate of conformity: age estimation at EAL3, liveness at EAL1, per press reporting of the certificate.","source_url":"https://www.biometricupdate.com/202312/google-receives-certificate-for-facial-age-estimation-in-the-uk","source_title":"Biometric Update","vendor_ids":["google"]},{"date":"2022-05-22","kind":"vendor","title":"ICO publishes its Regulatory Sandbox exit report for Yoti","summary":"The only public ICO document on Yoti's age-estimation processing. Yoti describes it as an audit; the exit report is what is published.","source_url":"https://ico.org.uk/media2/migrated/4020427/yoti-sandbox-exit_report_20220522.pdf","source_title":"ICO","vendor_ids":["yoti"]},{"date":"2019-05-07","kind":"regulation","title":"Gambling Commission: age and identity must be verified before a customer can gamble","summary":"New rules remove the previous 72-hour window; operators must verify name, address and date of birth before allowing anyone to deposit or bet. This is the gambling-sector rule the online safety age checks are often compared with.","source_url":"https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news/article/new-rules-to-make-online-gambling-in-britain-fairer-and-safer","source_title":"Gambling Commission"}]}