UK porn sites face ban to protect children

London: In bad news for adult site viewers, the United Kingdom is likely to introduce a new amendment to the digital economy bill that will force existing adult sites to agree to new age verification rules for viewers so kids can't access them. The amendment, introduced by Culture Secretary Karen Bradley would protect children from viewing 'harmful' porn.

She said: "We made a promise to keep children safe from harmful pornographic content online. That is exactly what we are doing. Only adults should be allowed to view such content.We have appointed a regulator to make sure the right age checks are in place. If sites refuse to comply, they should be blocked."

Regulators will have the power to fine up to £250,000 and block UK card payments to adult sites. Internet service providers and mobile networks would also be told to bar access to offending sites if they don't enforce the ID controls.

The move could affect porn sites based outside the UK too. But free speech campaigners have criticised the plan, saying it would mean large amounts of legal material would also be blocked to people.

Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, called the plans 'outrageous' and told the Guardian: 'Many of those sites will have little or no incentive to use the UK's bespoke age verification system.

'The result is large amounts of material will be blocked to UK adults, despite the material being legal to impart and receive.'