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| UK's controversial 'porn blocker' plan dropped | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The government has dropped a plan to use strict age verification checks to stop under-18s viewing porn online. | The government has dropped a plan to use strict age verification checks to stop under-18s viewing porn online. |
| It said the policy, which was initially set to launch in April 2018, would "not be commencing" after repeated delays, and fears it would not work. | It said the policy, which was initially set to launch in April 2018, would "not be commencing" after repeated delays, and fears it would not work. |
| The so-called porn blocker would have forced commercial porn providers to verify users' ages, or face a UK ban. | The so-called porn blocker would have forced commercial porn providers to verify users' ages, or face a UK ban. |
| Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan said other measures would be deployed to achieve the same objectives. | Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan said other measures would be deployed to achieve the same objectives. |
| The government first mooted the idea of a porn blocker in 2015, with the aim of stopping youngsters "stumbling across" inappropriate content. | The government first mooted the idea of a porn blocker in 2015, with the aim of stopping youngsters "stumbling across" inappropriate content. |
| Pornographic sites which failed to check the age of UK visitors would have faced being blocked by internet service providers. | Pornographic sites which failed to check the age of UK visitors would have faced being blocked by internet service providers. |
| But critics warned that many under-18s would have found it relatively easy to bypass the restriction, or could simply turn to porn-hosting platforms not covered by the law. | But critics warned that many under-18s would have found it relatively easy to bypass the restriction, or could simply turn to porn-hosting platforms not covered by the law. |
| For example, platforms which host pornography on a non-commercial basis - meaning they do not charge a fee or make money from adverts - would not have been affected. | |
| In a written statement issued on Wednesday, Ms Morgan said the government would not be "commencing Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 concerning age verification for online pornography". | In a written statement issued on Wednesday, Ms Morgan said the government would not be "commencing Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 concerning age verification for online pornography". |
| Instead, she said, porn providers would be expected to meet a new "duty of care" to improve online safety. This will be policed by a new online regulator "with strong enforcement powers to deal with non-compliance". | Instead, she said, porn providers would be expected to meet a new "duty of care" to improve online safety. This will be policed by a new online regulator "with strong enforcement powers to deal with non-compliance". |
| "This course of action will give the regulator discretion on the most effective means for companies to meet their duty of care," she added. | "This course of action will give the regulator discretion on the most effective means for companies to meet their duty of care," she added. |
| In June, the porn blocker was delayed a second time after the government failed to tell European regulators about the plan, leading Labour to describe the policy as an "utter shambles". | In June, the porn blocker was delayed a second time after the government failed to tell European regulators about the plan, leading Labour to describe the policy as an "utter shambles". |