As porn sites apply new age checks, will users hand over personal ID?

The UK government has implemented new regulations requiring all pornographic websites to verify the age of their users starting from this Friday. This measure aims to protect minors from accessing explicit content online. The new rules mandate that users must provide some form of personal identification, such as a driver's license or passport, to prove they are over 18 years old. This has raised concerns about privacy and data security, as users may be hesitant to share sensitive personal information with these websites. While the legislation's intent is to enhance online safety for children, there are doubts about its effectiveness and the potential for data breaches or misuse of the collected information. Industry experts argue that tech-savvy minors may find ways to circumvent the age checks, diminishing the regulations' real-world impact. The implementation of these new age verification requirements marks a significant shift in the landscape of online pornography access, with both benefits and challenges that will require ongoing evaluation and oversight.