Ofcom’s report focuses particularly on the first six months after the protection-of-children duties came into force in July 2025. It describes early findings across pornography, social-media and online-dating services. source
Ofcom says correctly implemented highly effective checks work, but also says no single method prevents all circumvention and calls for services to improve vendor due diligence and privacy compliance. These are the regulator’s early findings, not a claim that every deployment is accurate or privacy-preserving. source
The ICO’s standing expectations remain important: minimise inputs, do not reuse data incompatibly, secure processing, limit retention and provide accessible ways to challenge errors. source
Sources for this page
- Data protection guidance
Information Commissioner's Office. Expectations for age assurance and data protection compliance.
ICO guidance on lawful, fair, transparent, proportionate and privacy-conscious age assurance. Published 14 October 2021; last checked 8 August 2026.
- Regulator evidence
Ofcom. Use of Age Assurance Report 2026.
Ofcom's statutory assessment of how regulated services have used age assurance and early evidence of effectiveness. Published 15 July 2026; last checked 8 August 2026.