Ofcom fines adult platform over Online Safety Act age check failures
Stronger child protection follows as Ofcom increases enforcement against adult websites.
The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, has fined the operator of Fapello.com £630,000 for breaching the Online Safety Act, marking one of its most significant enforcement actions under the new regime.
The penalty includes £600,000 for failing to implement legally required age assurance measures to prevent children from accessing pornographic content, and a further £30,000 for failing to comply with a legally binding information request. Following Ofcom’s action, Fapello.com geoblocked users in the UK, although the regulator said it will continue monitoring compliance.
Ofcom also confirmed it has opened a new investigation into Bit Hive, operator of Eporner.com, to assess whether its age verification measures meet the Act’s requirement for ‘highly effective’ age assurance.
Separately, the regulator expanded its existing investigation into Kemono.cr to examine whether the platform failed to comply with statutory information requests.
Ofcom said robust age verification is a core requirement of the Online Safety Act and warned that providers failing to implement effective protections or cooperate with regulatory investigations should expect enforcement action, including substantial financial penalties.
The regulator added that it prioritises investigations according to user reach and will continue monitoring compliance across online pornography services.
Why does it matter?
The case demonstrates that the UK’s Online Safety Act has entered a new phase of active enforcement. Rather than focusing solely on guidance and compliance deadlines, Ofcom is now imposing financial penalties and investigating platforms that fail to implement effective child protection measures.
The decision also shows that enforcement extends beyond age verification itself. Companies that fail to cooperate with regulatory investigations or provide required information may face additional sanctions, reinforcing the regulator’s ability to oversee compliance across online platforms.
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