Ofcom found that Fenix failed to verify the accuracy of the information it provided while also delaying to inform once it realised its error.

Fenix International Limited, OnlyFans’ operator has been slapped with a £1.05m fine by Ofcom for failing to provide accurate information about the age assurance measures it has in place on the adult-only platform.

In 2022 and 2023, the UK telecoms regulator had asked Fenix about the measures it had in place on OnlyFans to ensure minors were restricted from accessing its services. This was a part of its information gathering exercise the watchdog said, which monitors how video-sharing platforms keep children safe.

Ofcom’s request from Fenix included information on implementing age checks, specifically the effectiveness of OnlyFans’ third-party facial estimation technology.

As part of its response, Fenix informed Ofcom that its third-party provider had set the facial estimation age bar on OnlyFans at 23 years. The tech, which works by analysing a live selfie, would ask a user estimated to be under 23 to verify through a secondary method that they are over the age of 18.

While it is not a platform dedicated to adult content, much of the popularity associated with OnlyFans relates to sex work and sexually explicit content which users can access for a subscription fee.

However, the company realised in early January 2024 that its third-party provider had the “challenge age” at 20 and not 23 years. Moreover, it only informed Ofcom of this error weeks later.

Furthermore, on 16 January this year, the company decided to raise the challenge age to 23 years, only to bring it back down to 21 years just days later.

Ofcom, which investigated this matter, concluded that Fenix failed to recognise for more than 16 months that it had provided the UK telecoms watchdog with inaccurate information.

According to the regulator, Fenix is a large and well-resourced company and as such should have taken steps to ensure accurate information is given.

It said that the inaccuracy of the data Ofcom received undermined the organisation’s ability to carry out its regulatory function. Moreover, the regulator also found Fenix at fault for its delay in informing Ofcom of the inaccurate information.

“When we use our statutory powers to request information from platforms, they are required, by law, to ensure it is complete, accurate and delivered to us on time,” said Suzanne Cater, Ofcom’s enforcement director.

“Receiving accurate and complete information is fundamental for Ofcom to do its job as a regulator and to understand and monitor how platforms are operating. We will hold platforms to high standards and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where we find failings.”

Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.