U.K. media regulator Ofcom has imposed a fine of 630,000 pounds (approximately $845,000) against adult website fapello.com for noncompliance with age verification provisions of the Online Safety Act. This action follows a series of enforcement measures by Ofcom against adult content providers for failing to implement required age checks.

Fapello Fined for Age Verification and Information Request Failures

Ofcom finalized its decision on Thursday, July 9, 2026, fining Fapello 600,000 pounds for not having age checks in place. An additional 30,000 pounds was levied against the site for failing to respond on time to a legally binding information request. The regulator began investigating Fapello in November, targeting the site due to a significant increase in user traffic after age-check laws came into force, suggesting it benefited from users avoiding larger sites that had complied with the Online Safety Act’s (OSA) age assurance mandate.

In May, Ofcom issued a provisional decision in the case, indicating "reasonable grounds" to believe the site was in breach of its duties under the OSA. Following formal enforcement action by Ofcom, Fapello has geoblocked access from IP addresses in the U.K., making it no longer directly available to users there. Ofcom Director of Enforcement George Lusty stated that age checks are no longer optional for porn sites in the U.K. and are a cornerstone of laws to protect children. Lusty also noted that providers failing to supply accurate information on time should expect enforcement action, including fines.

Broader Regulatory Scrutiny and Previous Fines

The fine against Fapello is part of broader scrutiny by Ofcom regarding age verification compliance within the adult industry. Sites allowing adult content have been required to use "highly effective" age assurance to ensure U.K. visitors are 18 or older since July 2025.

In recent months, Ofcom has issued several other fines for age check failings. In February 2026, Ofcom fined Kick Online Entertainment 800,000 pounds (more than $1 million) for failing to implement age checks between July 25 and December 29, 2025. Kick Online Entertainment was also fined 30,000 pounds (more than $40,000) for failing to respond to information requests in an accurate, complete, and timely way, with a daily penalty of 200 pounds to be imposed until a response is provided, or for a period of 60 days. The investigation into Kick Online Entertainment SA was in relation to the adult site www.motherless.com. Ofcom noted that Kick Online Entertainment has since implemented a method of age assurance that is "capable of being highly effective."

Prior to that, on February 23, 2026, Ofcom fined 8579 LLC, the parent company of a network of porn sites including crazyporn.xxx, hoes.tube, and love4porn.com, 1.35 million pounds ($1.8 million) for noncompliance with age verification requirements from July 25, 2025, until at least November 19, 2025. Another 8579 site, justpornflix.com, was still failing to implement age verification, with a daily penalty of 1,000 pounds ($1,349.10) to be imposed until compliance or June 3, 2026. 8579 LLC was additionally fined 50,000 pounds ($67,459.54) for failing to respond to a statutory request for information, with an additional 250 pounds ($337.30) fine per day until a complete list of all operated sites is provided.

In May, Ofcom fined YoungTek Solutions 600,000 pounds for not putting systems in place to ensure U.K. visitors were over the age of 18. Last month, Ofcom imposed a fine of 80,000 pounds (more than $100,000) against First Time Videos, which operates FTVGirls.com and FTVMilfs.com, for failing to implement age checks required for compliance with the Online Safety Act.

Ongoing Investigations

Ofcom has also opened an investigation into Bit Hive, the provider of porn site eporner.com, to assess its compliance with age-check rules under the Online Safety Act. This investigation cites concerns that "one of the methods of age assurance Bit Hive has implemented may not be highly effective."

Additionally, the agency announced it is expanding the scope of its ongoing investigation into the provider of kemono.cr to consider whether it has failed to comply with requirements to respond to a request for information. Ofcom had previously issued a provisional decision that Youngtek Solutions had failed to implement age checks and respond to information requests. The agency is also expanding the scope of its ongoing investigations into four other adult companies—Fapello, Porntrex, Sun Social Media, and XXBrits—over whether they have properly responded to information requests.

Key Facts

  • Ofcom fined fapello.com 630,000 pounds ($845,000) for age verification noncompliance and failing to respond to an information request.
  • Fapello has geoblocked U.K. access since Ofcom initiated formal enforcement action.
  • Ofcom previously fined Kick Online Entertainment 800,000 pounds for age check failures and 30,000 pounds for information request noncompliance.
  • 8579 LLC received a 1.35 million pound fine for age verification noncompliance and an additional 50,000 pounds for failing to respond to an information request.
  • Ofcom is currently investigating Bit Hive (eporner.com) and has expanded its investigation into kemono.cr, Porntrex, Sun Social Media, and XXBrits.
  • First Time Videos (FTVGirls.com, FTVMilfs.com) was fined 80,000 pounds for failing to implement age checks.