Age verification on porn was just the first step. Now we need to ban it altogether

Last week, the UK took a big step towards creating a safer internet. From 25 July 2025, a key part of the Online Safety Act came into effect which means robust, effective age verification must be in place on all porn sites in the UK. I’ve already written about why this is a cause for celebration.

But not everyone is rejoicing! For example, Reform leader Nigel Farage and others have raised concerns about age checks and the privacy of people’s data and also censorship online.

An online petition has already been set up, calling for the Online Safety Act to be repealed. In just a few days it has gathered more than 400,000 signatories. We’ve also seen a big rise in the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow users to access the internet via servers in other countries, despite the security risks associated with VPNs (especially the ‘free’ or cheap ones). 

My question to critics of the legislation is this: what is your alternative? 

I do not think for a single minute that these concerns should be lightly dismissed, and I do think the government has got its response wrong. Saying, as Science Minister Peter Kyle did, that Nigel Farage is on the side of extreme pornographers is a complete overreaction and is also deeply unfair.

A ‘clunky’ step forward

Actually, there is a very serious and important ongoing conversation that we need to keep having. The fundamental question is how we hold together two apparently competing interests: keeping freedom of expression online, while also taking proactive steps to protect children from online harms.

Far better to just admit that the Online Safety Act is far from perfect. It is, as one commentator said, a ‘clunky’ first attempt to introduce legislation to an area of life that for too long has been like the Wild West.

But for all its clunkiness, I do not think it should be repealed. For all its faults, it is a sincere attempt to protect children from a range of online harms, including porn. So my question to critics of the legislation is this: what is your alternative? And even more importantly, do you agree that we have a duty to protect children online?

Since last Friday, we’ve heard a lot about privacy, VPNs and censorship online. But we’ve not heard nearly enough about why age verification on UK online porn is so necessary.

Just consider the following facts. We know children as young as 7 are stumbling across online porn accidentally. The average age most children see porn for the first time is 13. We also know that violent sexual crimes have risen 40 per cent since 2021 with access to porn being identified as a key reason why.

Pornography also shapes and influences how children understand sex, consent and healthy relationships. A BBC Five Live Survey a few years ago found four in 10 women aged 18-39 had experienced choking during sex.

Do we really want to leave it to an immoral, undignified, cruel, exploitative and vindictive industry to teach them about these sacred things?

In fact, I actually think age checks do not go far enough.

The truth about the porn industry

Let’s face it, the porn industry is evil. In May this year, the New York Times published an expose that detailed how Pornhub’s own internal documents reveal years of knowingly hosting videos of children suffering from nonconsensual acts.

I do not think this is an isolated example. Often, the industry hides behind ‘consent’, but the truth is many people who appear in porn videos are abused and exploited.

As followers of Jesus, we have a particular understanding of human dignity, sex and relationships. We hold that all humans are made in God’s own image, with intrinsic dignity and value. We believe sex is a good gift, generously given within the context of a loving marriage between one man and one woman. Humans flourish when God’s wisdom in these matters is respected.

More than this, we have a duty to welcome little children and defend their rights (Matthew 19:13-15). We want to be advocates and a voice for them (Proverbs 31:8-9). We can all see the damage porn is doing to our young people.

Therefore, with all this is in mind, we should seek common ground with other campaigners and be at the forefront of calling for a full and comprehensive ban on pornography.

How many more stories and exposes do we need before we realise that the industry is hopelessly corrupt?

I see no credible justification for allowing an industry to exist that causes such harm and devastation across society. Let’s get rid of it.