The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has imposed a £1.05 million fine on the adult content platform OnlyFans for failing to provide accurate information regarding its age verification measures.
The fine is the result of an investigation launched in 2024, which questioned whether OnlyFans effectively blocked users under the age of 18 from accessing restricted content, in accordance with UK video-sharing platform regulations predating the Online Safety Act.
While Ofcom concluded its investigation into these issues last month without taking action against OnlyFans’ parent company, Fenix, for non-cooperation, the regulator continued to probe the accuracy of Fenix’s responses to requests about its age-assurance practices from June 2022 to June 2023.
In 2023, OnlyFans admitted that a Yoti-supplied age-estimation tool, intended to flag users under the age of 23, was incorrectly set to detect users under 20. The platform disclosed the error in January 2024, over 16 months after the initial request.
Ofcom’s enforcement director, Suzanne Cater, emphasized that accurate information is vital for regulatory oversight, adding that platforms must meet high standards, with enforcement action taken in cases of failure.
Although Fenix acknowledged the mistake and settled the case, Ofcom reduced the fine due to this cooperation. OnlyFans has since updated its age-verification threshold to 21 years old, which the company argues fulfills its statutory obligations.
