‘Porn passports’ to be rolled out in France to verify age of users in world-first move… could it come to UK?
FRANCE is set to be the first country to force internet users to prove they are over 18 to access sex websites.
The so-called “porn passports” will be rolled out by September under plans drawn up by the country’s digital minister, Jean-Noel Barrot.
At the moment in France, people only have to click a button to confirm they are older than 18.
But within months users will have to download a government phone application that will give them a digital certificate and code.
To access explicit material, the code will need to be entered, Le Parisien reports.
Barrot said the system will “work a bit like the checks from your bank when you buy something online”.
He added: “2023 will mark the end of our children accessing pornographic sites.
“I mean to end this scandal. I intend to have this law respected once and for all.”
If websites do not comply with the age verification protocol, they could be banned.
It comes as the UK eyes up a potential move to age verification as Tory MPs demand tougher checks on those accessing porn.
They have demanded an amendment to the Online Safety Bill before it is put to Parliament, that would force sites where kids can see porn to have age verification within six months.
It would cover sites such as Pornhub as well as user-generated platforms including OnlyFans.
The proposed amendment is supported by 14 charities.
A spokesman for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: “The Bill already has comprehensive and world-leading provisions in it to tackle underage access to online pornography.
“Any site hosting pornography will have to put in place robust measures such as age verification to prevent underage access or face huge fines.”
A survey of 1,000 youngsters revealed children as young as nine are watching graphic material online.
But it also showed how the majority, 41 per cent, asked accessed sexual content on Twitter rather than adult sites.
Meanwhile, parents have been urgently warned that their children can access porn and be exposed to fake health advice on TikTok.
An investigation by the Sunday Telegraph uncovered videos accessible by kids that contain links to porn, self-harm, and dangerous health advice.