NO MORE PORN?
What is the UK porn ban, when does it start and can you unlock the new block?
UK porn viewers will soon have to prove they are aged 18 or older under new laws.
But when does the block kick in, why is the government changing the rules, and can you switch it off?
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What is the UK porn ban?
Porn sites were set to be blocked on July 15, 2019 with sites required to get proof of ID from UK residents before showing any X-rated clips – in order to protect children.
It had already been delayed from April last year.
The measures were brought in under the Digital Economy Act 2017 but has yet to be enacted.
That included free porn sites like PornHub and YouPorn – which attract nearly two billion visits a month between them worldwide.
But the date of implementation has been pushed back, with a "bureaucratic" error said to be causing the delay.
They'll join a number of other sites in using the AgeID system, which requires users to verify their age via an official form of ID.
Randy internet lurkers will be shown a non-pornographic "landing page", according to AgeID spokesman James Clark.
"When a user first visits a site protected by AgeID, a landing page will appear with a prompt for the user to verify their age before they can access the site," he told .
"Each website will create their own non-pornographic landing page for this purpose."
When someone first clicks on a site, they'll be asked to register with AgeID and verify their age using a Mobile SMS, credit card, passport or driving licence.
Users will then be able to use their AgeID username or password to access all porn sites that use AgeID – though some may use different age verification systems.
Clark said: "It is a one-time verification, with a simple single sign-on for future access. If a user verifies on one AgeID protected site, they will not need to perform this verification again on any other site carrying AgeID."
Sites face fines of up to £250,000 or a blanket block by UK internet service providers if they do not comply with the rules.
Regulators will also be able to block porn websites if they fail to show that they are denying access to under-18s.
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When does the ban start?
The porn ban was supposed to start from July 15, 2019, however it is now set to be delayed indefinitely after the plans to check users’ ages sparked privacy fears, reports claim.
But just weeks before the launch, the porn block is set to be delayed for legal reasons, according to .
The delay comes after experts branded the ID checks a “privacy timebomb” for 20 million Brits.
Sky News reported that the issue with the policy was bureaucratic, rather than technical.
Officials from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) reportedly failed to notify the European commission about key details of the scheme.
The age block would be the first of its kind anywhere in the democratic world.
It would restrict access to adult websites, including free porn sites like PornHub and YouPorn – which attract nearly two billion visits a month between them worldwide.
Websites that refuse to implement the checks face being blocked by UK internet service providers or having their access to payment services withdrawn.
The Sun understands that adult websites are set to be given a grace period of three months to begin enforcing the new rules.
That means those trying to access a porn site from a British IP address will be asked to provide "proof" that they are aged 18.
For example, using driving licences, or age verification cards bought from retailers.
The automatic block is being introduced under the Digital Economy Act 2017.
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Can you unlock the new block?
As well as registering with AgeID, Brits will also be able to access porn sites using a voucher you can buy from high street shops.
Thousands of shops will offer the special ID cards, which users can link to an app known as Portes.
Through Portes, they can then login to sites without having to hand over their email address.
Clark said: "The PortesCard is available to purchase from selected high street retailers and any of the UK’s 29,000 PayPoint outlets as a voucher.
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"Once a card or voucher is purchased, its unique validation code must be activated via the Portes app within 24 hours before expiring.
"Once the user has been verified, they will automatically be granted access to all sites using AgeID."
Each PortesCard will cost £4.99 for use on a single device, or £8.99 for use across multiple devices.
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