Children: Age Verification and Virtual Private Networks - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 11:06 am on 4 December 2025.

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Photo of Baroness Lloyd of Effra Baroness Lloyd of Effra Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology), Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade), Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) 11:06, 4 December 2025

The Online Safety Act requires services to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children in the UK from encountering harmful content. ofcom’s guidance makes it clear that age assurance must be robust to prevent circumvention. Services must also take steps to mitigate against circumvention methods that are easily accessible to children. Providers that do not comply with their child safety duties by deliberately promoting the use of VPNs could face enforcement action under the Act.

Ofcom

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

Ofcom Web Site http://www.ofcom.org.uk