OnlyFans is getting a slap on the wrist after it was decided that they failed to provide accurate information about its age assurance measures. The Office of Communications, known as Ofcom, is the UK regulator of broadcasting, internet, telecommunications and postal industries. It is also the department that has been investigating Fenix, OnlyFans’ parent company, since last year.
The investigation was to look into whether OnlyFans, a platform known for hosting adult content, failed to block people under 18s from viewing restricted material under U.K. rules regulating video-sharing platforms, which required all video-sharing platforms in the United Kingdom to take all possible action to restrict underage access to sexually explicit material. These rules predate the Online Safety Act that took effect in 2023 and added even more rules and regulations around online content.
Earlier this year it seemed that the original investigation had closed with no repercussions, as well as another investigation into whether Fenix failed to cooperate with the regulator. Ofcom announced it was “making no findings on these issues” and would “continue to engage” with the service on its age-gating measures.
And it seems that Ofcom continued to look at whether Fenix failed to provide accurate responses to statutory information requests about the implementation and effectiveness of its age assurance measures. OnlyFans originally told Ofcom that it used a Yoti-supplied age-estimation tool to require age verification if someone was under 23, but the threshold had been mistakenly set to under 20. Fenix self-reported the issue in January 2024 according to Ofcom.
Ofcom’s enforcement director, Suzanne Cater, explained: “Receiving accurate and complete information is fundamental for Ofcom to do its job as a regulator and to understand and monitor how platforms are operating. We will hold platforms to high standards and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where we find failings.”
It may seem like a $1 million fine is minor to a company with $1.3 billion in revenue and more than 300 million users and you would be right. But in this case, Ofcom decided to use a lower fine as Fenix cooperated, accepted the findings, and settled the case.
However, the regulator said it had reduced the fine because Fenix accepted its findings and settled the case.
“OnlyFans recognizes the importance of providing Ofcom with accurate and timely information,” an OnlyFans spokesperson said. “We welcome the conclusion of this process and Ofcom’s previous decision to close their investigation into our age assurance measures.”
The platform will now set the “challenge age ” to 21 years old and vows to ensure everyone on their platform is of age and consents. OnlyFans even offers a Law Enforcement Guide on their website to assist law enforcement officials with their discharge of law enforcement functions and investigations. The UK-based company will do whatever it can to follow the letter of the law while still allowing its creators the flexibility and freedom to create the content they want.