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UK Regulator Imposes £800,000 Penalty on Adult Website for Failing to Implement Age Verification Measures
The UK regulator stated that Kick Online Entertainment did not implement the necessary age verification measures for adult content websites as mandated by regulations.
A fine of £800,000 has been imposed on Kick Online Entertainment SA by Ofcom, the UK's media regulator, for its failure to implement adequate age verification measures on its porn sites.

According to Ofcom, the company lacked effective methods to verify the age of UK visitors, ensuring they were over 18, as required by law.
Although Kick Online Entertainment has since introduced age checks, Ofcom found that the company was not in compliance with UK regulations between July and December 2025.
On Thursday, Ofcom also announced that it had identified three other companies, including the message board 4chan, as being non-compliant with their duties under the Online Safety Act.
Suzanne Cater, Ofcom's director of enforcement, emphasized that having robust age verification measures in place is essential for adult websites to prevent minors from accessing explicit content.
Cater warned that companies failing to meet this requirement or cooperate with Ofcom can expect to face significant penalties, including substantial fines.
The Online Safety Act grants Ofcom the authority to impose fines of up to 10% of a company's turnover or seek a court order to block a non-compliant website in the UK.
Kick Online Entertainment's failure to introduce age checks on its porn sites between 25 July and 29 December resulted in the £800,000 fine.
The company has also been fined £30,000 for not responding to Ofcom's information requests and will face a daily penalty of £200 until it complies.
Ofcom launched an investigation into Kick Online Entertainment and several other companies on 31 July last year, after discovering that 34 sites had not implemented age checks.
The regulator prioritized Kick Online Entertainment due to its large user base.
Ofcom has initiated investigations into numerous other porn sites lacking age verification measures and has issued decisions, including fines, against some of them.
In December, the regulator imposed its largest penalty to date on AVS Group Ltd for non-compliance with the Online Safety Act.
Cater stated that Ofcom will continue to investigate other sites under the UK's age check requirements and take additional action as necessary.
Meanwhile, Ofcom has given 4chan a 10-working-day deadline to respond to a provisional notice regarding its non-compliance with UK regulations, including age checks and risk assessments for illegal content.
The company behind 4chan was previously fined £20,000 by Ofcom as part of a separate investigation into its compliance with online regulations.
To date, the company has refused to pay the fine.
A lawyer representing 4chan argued that Ofcom's actions are an overreach, stating that the regulator's orders are invalid in the US and conflict with his client's constitutional rights.
Preston Byrne, managing partner of Byrne & Storm, told BBC News that Ofcom's actions are an infringement on the rights of American citizens and companies.
Some US politicians, particularly those associated with the Trump administration, have expressed concerns about the UK and EU's regulation of US tech firms, viewing it as an overreach.
Byrne warned that Ofcom's actions could lead to law reform efforts in the US, stating that each enforcement notice sent to American companies adds urgency to these efforts.
For the latest tech news and trends, sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter; non-UK residents can subscribe via an alternative link.

News
UAE Defeats Canada to Enhance Super 8s Qualification Chances
The United Arab Emirates boosted their slim chances of advancing to the T20 World Cup Super 8s, securing a narrow five-wicket victory over Canada, thanks in part to Aryansh Sharma’s unbeaten 74.
In a crucial match for the United Arab Emirates, Aryansh Sharma achieved his fifth T20 international half-century, contributing to the team's victory over Canada.
The Men's T20 World Cup, being held in Group D in Delhi, saw an intense competition between the two teams.
Canada's innings resulted in a total of 150-7 after 20 overs, with Harsh Thaker scoring 50 runs off 41 balls, while Junaid Siddique took 5 wickets for 35 runs.
The UAE team responded with a total of 154 runs in 19.4 overs, led by Aryansh Sharma's unbeaten 74 runs off 53 balls and Sohaib Khan's 51 runs off 29 balls, despite Bin Zafar taking 3 wickets for 14 runs.
The United Arab Emirates secured a five-wicket win over Canada, boosting their chances in the tournament.
Aryansh Sharma played a pivotal role in the UAE's win, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs to help his team overcome Canada's total.
With four overs remaining, Canada seemed poised to defend their total, but Sohaib Khan's aggressive batting reignited the UAE's chase, as he scored 17 runs off Dillon Heyliger's bowling.
In the final over, the UAE required eight runs to win, and Aryansh Sharma eased the pressure by hitting a six off Jaskaran Singh's first ball.
Sohaib Khan was dismissed after scoring a rapid 51 runs off 29 balls, including four sixes, leaving the scores level.
Muhammad Arfan then sealed the victory with two balls to spare, hitting a four off Jaskaran Singh, as Aryansh Sharma top-scored with 74 runs off 53 balls.
The UAE now stands third in Group D with two points, but they face an uphill task in their upcoming matches against full members South Africa and Afghanistan to advance to the next phase.
Although the UAE has never beaten a full member in any World Cup format, their performance in this match has given them some confidence.
Earlier in the match, Junaid Siddique achieved the best bowling figures by a UAE player in a T20 World Cup, taking 5 wickets for 35 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Harsh Thaker's 41-ball half-century, which included three sixes and two fours, provided a solid foundation for Canada's total.
Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal shared a 58-run partnership to help Canada recover from a difficult start, before Dhaliwal was run out for 34 runs.
After Thaker fell victim to Junaid Siddique's slower ball, Canada struggled to find boundaries against the UAE's tight bowling.
Shreyas Movva made a useful contribution of 21 runs off 21 balls, but Junaid Siddique took two wickets in the final over to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals.
In a separate match, Zimbabwe's Brilliant Muzarabani played a key role in his team's stunning win over Australia.
For more updates, notifications, and social media coverage, visit the BBC Sport website.
In another development, Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup due to injury.
News
Guardiola Advocates for Cultural Embrace to Foster a Better Society
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has stated that accepting diverse cultures will lead to a more harmonious society, in reaction to comments made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe regarding immigration.
As a player, Pep Guardiola earned 47 international caps for Spain, showcasing his skills on the global stage.
Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, believes that embracing diverse cultures is essential for creating a more harmonious society.
Guardiola was questioned about his thoughts on comments made by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who stated that the UK had been "colonised by immigrants", sparking a debate.
Following criticism, Ratcliffe apologised for any offence caused, while still advocating for open discussion on the issue.
Ahead of Manchester City's FA Cup fourth-round match against Salford, Guardiola shared his perspective, saying that people seek better lives and opportunities, which can be found in their birthplace or elsewhere.
According to Guardiola, one's birthplace is not a determining factor in their potential or aspirations.
Many individuals are forced to leave their homelands due to problems in their native countries, rather than a desire to abandon their roots.
Guardiola emphasized that by genuinely embracing other cultures, society as a whole can improve, a notion he has no doubts about.
An examination of the facts behind Jim Ratcliffe's statements on immigration and benefits is also underway.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a billionaire, has made headlines, but who is he and how did he accumulate his wealth?
Born in Santpedor, Catalonia, Spain, Guardiola has had a diverse career, playing in Spain, Italy, Qatar, and Mexico, before transitioning to management.
As a manager, the 55-year-old has had stints in Spain, Germany, and England, taking the helm at Manchester City in 2016.
Guardiola views the issue of immigration as a global problem, stating that it is a concern that affects many countries.
He believes that immigrants are often unfairly blamed for problems in their adopted countries, highlighting the fact that one's birthplace is often a matter of circumstance.
Guardiola reiterated that people from all backgrounds strive for a better life, seeking opportunities that may be available in their birth country or elsewhere.
He stressed that factors such as skin colour or birthplace should not be barriers to achieving one's goals.
For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Manchester City, please refer to our dedicated section.
Do you have any questions about Manchester City that you would like answered?
News
GB’s Bankes knocked out in snowboard cross quarterfinals
Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain was knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the women’s snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain has been knocked out of the women's snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, failing to advance beyond the quarter-final stage.
For more Winter Olympics coverage, videos are available to stream.
Access to Winter Olympics video content is restricted to users in the United Kingdom.
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