Over the next few weeks, we’ll be covering multiple angles on the imminent UK Porn Ban. Our focus will shift from governmental justification, methods of getting around the ban, and the questionable repercussions of the ban. I this article, however, we want to tackle the brass tacks of how the ban will actually function.
Come April, the UK could be a wholly different place. It may finally/regrettably be outside the EU, and a nationwide “Porn Ban” will have taken effect.
What measures then will British citizens have to take this April in order to swap out their wieners for sausages?
What will happen to porn websites?
As British summertime rolls itself out and you start feeling especially hot under the collar, you may be tempted to visit the adult website of your choice. It’s almost definite that the website server’s IP address will be included under the porn ban.
Upon loading the page, you will be met with an age verification request “loading page”. The loading page will ask you to create an account with the age verification system, AgeID.
Registering with AgeID will initially require an email address and password, but will also have to be backed up with another form of identity verification. This will mean linking your AgeID account with an accredited source such as a Passport, a Driving License, or even your Credit Card.
Speaking to Metro magazine, AgeID also explained that users will be able to log in through something called a PortesCard. This is a voucher that can be purchased from one of 29,000 high street shops. The PortesCard will have a 24 hour period in which to be validated through the Portes app, before it will allow entry for your night time (keyboard) strokes.
What is AgeID?
Although a few companies were vying for the position of being the age verification software primarily employed by the UK Porn Ban, it is almost definite AgeID will be the software you will encounter in April.
Developed by MindGeek, the internet conglomerate behind websites like PornHub, AgeID promises to ensure only verified over 18s will gain access to pornographic websites.
AgeID is aware of the security fears of many sweaty internet surfers. MindGeek claims that AgeID will be “protected by a salted, one-way hash.” In layman’s terms, this means that AgeID will use the login details to trigger a process by which those details are verified to be on an over 18s lists while irreversibly encrypting the information. AgeID will then verify that the user is of age to the porn site, without the website or AgeID directly storing the user’s private information.
AgeID has commissioned the independent NCC Group to assess their process in order to comply with the BBFC’s strict criteria required for age verification systems.
What can you do if you don’t trust AgeID?
The solution for avoiding even a remote chance of your personal information being tied to your porn viewing habits is to use a VPN. In just a few steps you can get around any countries efforts to restrict your internet access.
So at the end of the day, the UK’s porn ban just won’t work.
Although this article has summarised what will happen once the UK Porn Ban is installed, you can read more about the myriad of criticisms for the porn ban here.