There is no go-live-date set on the UK government's plans for age verification when accessing online pornography sites. It seems likely that the technology behind the plan will be the same that is currently used in Germany and developed by Mindgeek, who seem willing to share the technology with the smaller software producers and platforms. Mindgeek are acting responsibly and are keen that the industry they dominate is seen as a positive force for good. We all hope that is for moral reasons as well as good business principles. I am sure that they would argue that both go hand in hand.
Safer Lives is featured in recent BBC items discussing whether age verification will work (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-43795806). Our view is that the policy is well intended, and very few would argue for the sexual education of our children to be left in the hands of the pornography platforms, as it seemingly is at present. We do believe that age verification will deter many children, as well as potentially compulsive adult users, and be a help to prevent relapse for those who are trying to remain abstinent after losing control of their porn use.
Of course, determined individuals (whether children or adults) will find their way around such hurdles, and some of the riskier users, who may move on to accessing extreme or child images, will find getting around the verification process a thrill in itself and will only add to the excitement of accessing their taboo world. The pornography companies would argue that responsible and open porn use removes the taboo, and so that particular thrill goes with it. In our experience of working with those who have crossed the line into compulsive, risky or illegal online behaviour, for many the taboo of the online sexual world is definitely part of the thrill. Age verification will likely protect many children from harmful content, but will push others into darker corners of the internet to find less palatable interests.
Unlike drugs, alcohol and gambling, sex is absolutely necessary for human production and existence. It should be a lot of fun too, and help to confirm our intimate relationships. The pornography industry itself would say that it advocates healthy, fun and safe sex, but in our view the industry needs to do more to support those whose online behaviours become problematic. A few of those potential problems caused by irresponsible or unhealthy porn use are listed here....
The alcohol and gambling industries have shown social resposnibility and good business acumen in supporting research and education, as well as signposting to resources and agencies who can support people who fall foul to harmful usage. We would encourage the pornography industry to do more of this. People who are already in cycles of unhelpful behaviour need ways and supportive messages to get out.
Age verification is also a potential minefield in terms of data protection and the misuse of personal data. That doesn't seem relevant to the work of Safer Lives until we consider the unintended consequences of Operation Ore in arresting people who had given credit card details and payments to access child abuse websites. This UK policing operation arrested thousands of (mainly) men in the late noughties. Very blunt and visible dawn raids were used to arrest suspects. Operation Ore led to the removal of many vulnerable children and the bringing to justice of thousands of men, and so must be seen as a success. However, the most organised criminals were not caught because they had used stolen identities and credit cards found on the dark web (or elsewhere) to access the monitored child abuse sites. It meant therefore that the police raided the homes of many people who had been the victims of having their credit cards and identities stolen. The suicide rate among this group of suspects was very high, and we will never know how many of those who took their lives were actually completely innocent.
I am pleased to say that the Police have learned many of the lessons from Operation Ore and now do their unenviable job in an unbelievably professional way, although there remains a high suicide rate which we are trying to address.
The moral of the story is that well intended policies can have many unintended consequences. Age verification must be a step towards protecting children from harmful content, but it must be implemented intelligently, and the pornography industry must be a partner, not just an implementer.
Safer Lives is featured in recent BBC items discussing whether age verification will work (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-43795806). Our view is that the policy is well intended, and very few would argue for the sexual education of our children to be left in the hands of the pornography platforms, as it seemingly is at present. We do believe that age verification will deter many children, as well as potentially compulsive adult users, and be a help to prevent relapse for those who are trying to remain abstinent after losing control of their porn use.
Of course, determined individuals (whether children or adults) will find their way around such hurdles, and some of the riskier users, who may move on to accessing extreme or child images, will find getting around the verification process a thrill in itself and will only add to the excitement of accessing their taboo world. The pornography companies would argue that responsible and open porn use removes the taboo, and so that particular thrill goes with it. In our experience of working with those who have crossed the line into compulsive, risky or illegal online behaviour, for many the taboo of the online sexual world is definitely part of the thrill. Age verification will likely protect many children from harmful content, but will push others into darker corners of the internet to find less palatable interests.
Unlike drugs, alcohol and gambling, sex is absolutely necessary for human production and existence. It should be a lot of fun too, and help to confirm our intimate relationships. The pornography industry itself would say that it advocates healthy, fun and safe sex, but in our view the industry needs to do more to support those whose online behaviours become problematic. A few of those potential problems caused by irresponsible or unhealthy porn use are listed here....
- Erectile dysfunction from excessive porn use
- Anxiety around body image and sexual performance
- Inappropriate role models for young men and women
- Inappropriate expectations of sexual relationships and consent within diverse sexual behaviours
- Avoidance of finding resolution to relationship difficulties in the real world
- Poor modelling of safe sex, and modelling of unsafe sex
- Addiction and sexual preoccupation
The alcohol and gambling industries have shown social resposnibility and good business acumen in supporting research and education, as well as signposting to resources and agencies who can support people who fall foul to harmful usage. We would encourage the pornography industry to do more of this. People who are already in cycles of unhelpful behaviour need ways and supportive messages to get out.
Age verification is also a potential minefield in terms of data protection and the misuse of personal data. That doesn't seem relevant to the work of Safer Lives until we consider the unintended consequences of Operation Ore in arresting people who had given credit card details and payments to access child abuse websites. This UK policing operation arrested thousands of (mainly) men in the late noughties. Very blunt and visible dawn raids were used to arrest suspects. Operation Ore led to the removal of many vulnerable children and the bringing to justice of thousands of men, and so must be seen as a success. However, the most organised criminals were not caught because they had used stolen identities and credit cards found on the dark web (or elsewhere) to access the monitored child abuse sites. It meant therefore that the police raided the homes of many people who had been the victims of having their credit cards and identities stolen. The suicide rate among this group of suspects was very high, and we will never know how many of those who took their lives were actually completely innocent.
I am pleased to say that the Police have learned many of the lessons from Operation Ore and now do their unenviable job in an unbelievably professional way, although there remains a high suicide rate which we are trying to address.
The moral of the story is that well intended policies can have many unintended consequences. Age verification must be a step towards protecting children from harmful content, but it must be implemented intelligently, and the pornography industry must be a partner, not just an implementer.