It looks like OnlyFans maybe forgot that it’s not just randy subscribers tuning in—regulators have been keeping an eye on things too, and they are not happy. Ofcom has been monitoring OnlyFans’ UK operations closely, and they’re none too pleased with the age verification process. Like… “having to pay a £1.05 million fine” kind of none too pleased. Apparently, British OnlyFans operations weren’t being proactive enough about protecting minors from the adult content world—and that’s one pricey mistake to make.
Basically, OnlyFans utilizes technology designed to scan the faces of content creators to ensure they appear old enough to legally create content for those looking for a romp in adult-entertainment land. OnlyFans UK reassured Ofcom—that’s the Office of Communications in the UK—that they had things on their end tweaked to ensure any creator under age 23 was flagged for an ID check. Too bad the face-scanning robots were actually only flagging creators who appeared to be under the age of 20. That’s not a small age gap when you’re dealing with an adults-only empire. To make matters worse, it took OnlyFans almost a year and a half to notice they got the age wrong. They did own up to their wee oopsie and notified Ofcom, but still. C’mon, guys.
Ofcom was summarily unimpressed and decided that OnlyFans needed to be punished—but spankings are way less fun when they come in the form of a hefty financial penalty. A £1.05 million fine is more than just a little sexy smack, but because OnlyFans owned up to their error, they got a 30% discount for good behavior. Thank you, daddy, I guess? Anyhow, that’s still a seven-figure fine for missing the mark on facial recognition filters.
Jokes aside, this is about more than just software not behaving the way it was intended to. When facial recognition is configured to scan for anyone who appears to be younger than 23, it’s easier for a minor to sneak through the filters. When the facial scanners are looking for younger creators—i.e., creators 20 years and younger—it gets much more difficult for underage creators to slip through the cracks. Where there are minors able to slip through the cracks, there are people who are awful who will find a way to exploit underage women. Regulations aren’t there to ruin the fun and make life difficult—they’re there to protect minors from harm. When a platform like OnlyFans messes up with age checks, they’re opening a door to the potential for serious harm—hence the fine that’s more than a slap on the wrist. Ofcom’s messaging here is loud and clear: if you want to run a sex-positive business, awesome—but for the love of God, please make sure you’re doing it right.
OnlyFans is a huge, high-profile operation. Them owning up to their mistake is incredibly important and sends a message to smaller operations: if a giant like OnlyFans has to stay accountable to regulators, then they do too. Regulators are tightening their grip on age verification (especially in the UK and Europe), and adults-only platforms have got to keep up or they’re going to pay the price for negligence. When it comes to keeping content creators safe online, adult platforms need to take OnlyFans’ lead and step up to the current moment. No one wants to be the reason an underage creator slips—or is forced through—the cracks.
OnlyFans built their empire on NSFW content, and now they’re getting a very justified punishment for potentially exposing underage creators to harm. If you’re making millions annually from adult content, it’s best to regularly check your security settings to make sure you’re in compliance. The law doesn’t care if you didn’t know you were breaking the rules, and ignorance isn’t sexy—so either get with the program or prepare to pay up.
