Online Safety Act (UK)

[Quimpossibility]

Lit will have to comply. Reddit made an announcement this week that they will be adding this.

Lit will also have to comply with the Local State Age Verification laws.

Or, like reddit, the service won't extend to Britain I guess

 

[Mr. Briggs]

Or, like reddit, the service won't extend to Britain I guess

UK isn't the issue. Kansas and Tennessee State Laws could put Lit out of business and the way those laws are worded in jail. There is a reason the biggest sites are blocking those states.

 

[Quimpossibility]

UK isn't the issue. Kansas and Tennessee State Laws could put Lit out of business and the way those laws are worded in jail. There is a reason the biggest sites are blocking those states.

I don't follow. How are those state laws related to the UK situation?

Are you saying they have something similar, only with far harsher repercussions?

 

[ElectricBlue]

I don't follow. How are those state laws related to the UK situation?

Are you saying they have something similar, only with far harsher repercussions?

I think that what he's saying, yes. Lit is hosted in the US, so US law is the site's biggest concern.

 

[Mr. Briggs]

I don't follow. How are those state laws related to the UK situation?

Are you saying they have something similar, only with far harsher repercussions?

The UK Age Verification act is going live this month (Next week). I would be shocked if Lit weren't approached. They have a list of the top 3000 sites and have emailed them all. Sites failing to respond are getting slammed in the media.

The US Age Verification laws went live last year. There was a big supreme court battle over it in Texas and the supreme court voted in favour of the state and voted that Age Verification is constitutional.

There are 21 states I believe that have Age Verification laws live. So Lit should be age verifying in those states.

Kansas and Tenn are different. They allow civil lawsuits. As a result there is an ambulance chaser going after the adult industry. The law went live last year and the fine is up to $10,000 per day. So lit could be hit for 365 x $10,000 3.6million lawsuit.

https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01...or-failing-to-shield-minors-from-pornography/

 

[Mr. Briggs]

I think that what he's saying, yes. Lit is hosted in the US, so US law is the site's biggest concern.

Where you are hosted doesn't matter. For example if Lit ignored the UK they have the power to get lit delisted from google.

 

[Mr. Briggs]

Not trying to freak anyone out. These laws suck. I don't know why this is getting so much traction.

This week the EU said they will be rolling out an EU wide age verification law in the near future.

All adult sites have to comply. Whether the content is visual, audio or written.

 

[Quimpossibility]

Where you are hosted doesn't matter. For example if Lit ignored the UK they have the power to get lit delisted from google.

I'm assuming they can do more than that, perhaps even block sites where they can't pursue them financially.

 

[ToPleaseHim]

@ToPleaseHim

Are you able to provide any insight about how Lit, and specifically UK users will be impacted by this?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceq7ye3q2zwo

No, I don’t have any insight into this. I don’t make any of the rules or policies here, just follow Laurel’s lead.

Reading through it, I expect Lit will likely comply. Otherwise folks in the UK will need to get real familiar with using a VPN to get around it. Not speaking with any authority on the compliance, just my instinct.

 

[Mr. Briggs]

I'm assuming they can do more than that, perhaps even block sites where they can't pursue them financially.

Exactly. They can go after the money. The UK entity in place for this has a lot of power. They aren't messing around

The thing is the US States are trying to eliminate porn and kill porn companies. This appears to be their motive.
The nice thing is the UK law is really aimed to help the situation. They are giving sites time to respond. They have realistic solution in place. They've even said they know 16-17 year old will get around this. They don't mind that. Their concern is that 10 to 14 year olds can't easily find porn and aren't one click away from porn when searching for the BBC.

 

[lingus60]

No, I don’t have any insight into this. I don’t make any of the rules or policies here, just follow Laurel’s lead.

Reading through it, I expect Lit will likely comply. Otherwise folks in the UK will need to get real familiar with using a VPN to get around it. Not speaking with any authority on the compliance, just my instinct.

Ok. Thanks for replying!

 

[ToPleaseHim]

Not trying to freak anyone out. These laws suck. I don't know why this is getting so much traction.

This week the EU said they will be rolling out an EU wide age verification law in the near future.

All adult sites have to comply. Whether the content is visual, audio or written.

Speaking just from my experience in the U.S., as the nation becomes more and more secular, the religious right is freaking out and trying to maintain power and “majority.” They can’t scare folks into complying (because they aren’t filling the pews), so they’re doing it with legislation under the guise of protecting minors.

 

[Quimpossibility]

Exactly. They can go after the money. The UK entity in place for this has a lot of power. They aren't messing around

I don't know how they can go after a US website, financially speaking?

I mean, i'm sure they can otherwise the whole thing is pointless and a paper tiger

 

[Quimpossibility]

I just don't want to go to log in next week and find...I cannot.

 

[lingus60]

I set up a free vpn today . I think that may be the way to go

 

[RosewoodTulip]

I set up a free vpn today . I think that may be the way to go

Yeah me too, thanks to your advice

 

[Quimpossibility]

So does anyone know what happens to a site that doesn't comply? Lit isn't a UK site, what will happen if Lit chooses not to comply but still 'broadcasts' in the UK? Does it just have access blocked? Can a VPN get around that?

I'm absolutely clueless when it comes to understanding the mechanics of this.

 

[Mr. Briggs]

So does anyone know what happens to a site that doesn't comply? Lit isn't a UK site, what will happen if Lit chooses not to comply but still 'broadcasts' in the UK? Does it just have access blocked? Can a VPN get around that?

I'm absolutely clueless when it comes to understanding the mechanics of this.

Here is what chatgpt says

A site that doesn't comply with the UK Online Safety Act (OSA) or Ofcom's age verification requirements can face serious consequences. Here's a clear summary of what can happen:

---

1. Blocking Orders​

• ISPs can be ordered to block access to the site in the UK.
• This can include search engines being told to delist the site from UK results.

2. Monetary Penalties​

• Ofcom can issue fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover (whichever is higher).

3. Criminal Liability​

• For non-cooperation with Ofcom (e.g. ignoring requests or giving false info), senior managers can face criminal prosecution.

4. Payment Interference​

• Ofcom can ask payment providers to cut off funds, blocking card processing or other transactions for UK users.

5. Reputational Damage​

• Public notices, media coverage, and user backlash can impact brand reputation and future business.

---

Who’s Affected?​

Any site:

• Accessible from the UK
• Hosting user-generated content or facilitating interaction
• Offering pornographic content without proper age checks

This includes non-UK sites if they target or serve UK users.

 

[Quimpossibility]

Whatever changes, if any, happen here, I hope we get fair warning.

 

[Mr. Briggs]

To be fair the age verification process is so easy in the uk. No id. You just turn on the app, it looks at your face. Age estimates. Done. You are in.

 

[Quimpossibility]

To be fair the age verification process is so easy in the uk. No id. You just turn on the app, it looks at your face. Age estimates. Done. You are in.

I think that depends on what age verification process is chosen. I think there are several options, including facial recognition. Some that require ID i don't have (passports for example, or credit cards). I guess that depends on the site owner. I don't think the government mandates anythign specifically, but again: i could be wrong!

 

[Baztrachian]

There's something about some sites having up to 6 months to comply. I'm assuming Lit will almost certainly have to do age verification.

Only if Lit advertises in the UK. If Lit has no business in the UK then the UK can go fuck themselves with their censorship.

 

[Mr. Briggs]

Only if Lit advertises in the UK. If Lit has no business in the UK then the UK can go fuck themselves with their censorship.

That's rich coming from someone in Missouri
https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general...hildren-from-big-tech-and-porn-conglomerates/

Your state can go fuck themselves.

 

[Quimpossibility]

Only if Lit advertises in the UK. If Lit has no business in the UK then the UK can go fuck themselves with their censorship.

Or if they have a "significant" user base. Whatever that means

 

[Mr. Briggs]

Or if they have a "significant" user base. Whatever that means

10,000 users or more.