Fact check: In the uk is it illegal for children to watch porn?

1. Summary of the results

Yes, it is illegal for children to access pornography in the UK under the Online Safety Act 2023. The legislation requires websites operating in the UK with pornographic content to implement "robust" age verification systems to prevent children from accessing adult material ^{[1] [2]}.

As of July 25, 2025, these age-check requirements became enforceable, with Ofcom serving as the regulatory body responsible for ensuring compliance ^[2]. Companies that ignore these new laws face substantial penalties of up to £18 million or 10% of their worldwide revenue ^[2].

Ofcom has already begun enforcement actions, launching investigations into four companies operating 34 pornography sites to ensure they comply with the new age-check requirements ^{[3] [4] [5]}. This demonstrates the regulator's active commitment to protecting children from accessing pornographic content online.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

• Implementation timeline: The analyses reveal this is a recent development, with enforcement beginning in July 2025, making this a current regulatory priority rather than a long-standing law ^[2]
• Broader scope of the Online Safety Act: The legislation addresses not just pornography but sets "tougher standards for platforms to tackle criminal activity" with emphasis on child protection and illegal content more broadly ^[3]
• Active enforcement reality: Rather than being merely theoretical, Ofcom is actively investigating non-compliant sites, showing this is a law with real consequences being enforced in practice ^{[3] [4] [5]}
• Technical requirements: The law specifically mandates "robust" age verification systems, indicating that simple age declarations or basic checks may not be sufficient ^{[1] [2]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains no apparent misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward factual inquiry about UK law. However, the phrasing "is it illegal for children to watch porn" could be interpreted as focusing on the child's action rather than the broader regulatory framework that places responsibility on platforms and websites to prevent such access through age verification systems ^{[1] [3]}.

The question also doesn't acknowledge that this represents a significant recent regulatory shift with substantial financial penalties for non-compliance, suggesting the person asking may not be aware of the current enforcement landscape in the UK ^{[2] [3]}.