The UK is supposed to implement its age verification system for accessing porn online on 15 July. This is already a delay from the initial April start date. But now, it looks like the UK government is delaying the implementation of its porn pass indefinitely.
According to Sky News, the delay is caused by legal reasons, after government officials failed to notify the European Commission of its implementation. A separate report by The Guardian states that a government did not deny that the age verification system had been indefinitely delayed.
The system itself also came under scrutiny, and for pretty obvious reasons. Those who wanted to watch such content would have to apply verify their identity using identifiable documents. This can then be used to connect an individual to their browsing habits. Such individuals may, in turn, end up being victims of scams and blackmail.
Had the system not been indefinitely delayed, it would’ve been the first of its kind. Websites that failed to implement it would also have faced sanctions. These could range from being blocked by the UK government, to being restricted from accessing payment services.
(Source: Sky News, The Guardian)
