New porn laws that will see all X-rated websites require age verification from UK users will not be introduced on 1 April, say government officials.
A spokesperson from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport told HuffPost UK any reports that a nationwide rollout would be happening on Monday are incorrect, and that a commencement date will be made public shortly.
DCMS said the announcement could be as soon as next week.
This is not the first time the start date for the controversial scheme has been pushed back – it was previously due to start in April 2018, and then at the end of last year.
MP Margot James told a science and technology committee in November 2018 that we could expect the laws to “be enforced” by easter 2019.
As stipulated in the 2017 Digital Economy Act, the so-called ‘porn block’ is being introduced in a bid to stop under-18s seeing inappropriate material.
Websites such as PornHub and RedTube will only be unlocked after individual users have been through a process of verification to prove they are old enough.
The changes have been criticised by campaigners, with some arguing that these compulsory checks require adults to give up sensitive personal information in return for access to pornography.
The government has left it in the hands of the porn companies to ensure they comply with the compulsory checks, so the type of age-verification software will depend on which sites you visit.
One example of software being developed is by MindGeek – which also owns Pornhub, YouPorn, RedTube and Brazzers – is called AgeID. This will work by redirecting you to a non-pornographic page to take your details.
On a separate page, users will have to input an official document, such as a passport or driving licence. MindGeek say this will be a one-time verification, and they expect 20 to 25 million UK users will sign up to AgeID.
Users will also be able to verify their age through AgeID using a physical ID card, known as a Portes card. The ‘Portes’ ID cards will reportedly give a 16-digit verification code that lasts for 24 hours to prove your age.
The cards will reportedly cost £4.99 for use on a single device, or £8.99 for use across multiple devices. Using this method, a customer does not need to register an email address, and can simply access the site using the Portes app.
Enforcement will be the responsibility of the British Board of Film Classification – the body responsible for setting age restrictions on films. It will ask internet service providers (ISPs) or mobile network operators to block sites that don’t comply.
But a YouGov survey last week found most Britons have no idea about the block with more than three quarters of respondents saying they were unaware of the new checks.