The UK’s digital watchdog, Ofcom, has just put the adult entertainment world on notice, and First Time Videos (FTV) is one of the first in its crosshairs. In a landmark move, the regulator announced it’s launching an investigation into the popular adult network for potentially failing to protect children under the country’s tough new Online Safety Act.
The Heart of the Matter: Where Are the Age Checks?
On Tuesday, Ofcom revealed that FTV, which operates sites like FTVGirls.com and FTVMilfs.com, is being investigated because it doesn’t appear to have robust age-checking systems in place. The Online Safety Act, which became law last year, isn’t messing around—it legally requires platforms that host pornography to use “highly effective age assurance” to keep minors out.
According to Ofcom’s official announcement, the investigation was kicked off because FTV doesn’t seem to be playing by these new, stricter rules.
“The service does not appear to have taken steps to implement highly effective age assurance on their services, as required under…the Online Safety Act,” Ofcom stated plainly.
This isn’t just a slap on the wrist. This investigation is part of the very first wave of enforcement actions under the new law, signaling that the “grace period” for platforms is officially over.
Not Just FTV: A Sign of a New Era
First Time Videos isn’t alone in the hot seat. The regulator announced it’s looking into eight different services as part of its initial sweep. This also includes the controversial forum 4chan and several file-sharing sites, although for different alleged violations. The message from Ofcom is clear: it doesn’t matter how big or small you are, if you’re accessible in the UK, you have to follow the rules.
For years, the adult industry and other online platforms operated in a bit of a regulatory gray area when it came to age verification. The Online Safety Act changed the game entirely, shifting the burden of responsibility squarely onto the shoulders of the platforms themselves. This move against FTV is a real-world test of the Act’s power and shows regulators are ready to enforce it.
The potential penalties are severe. If found in breach, companies could face massive fines—up to £18 million (around $23 million) or 10% of their global annual revenue, whichever is higher. In the most serious cases, Ofcom even has the power to order UK internet service providers to block the site entirely.
What Happens Next?
This investigation puts the entire online content industry, especially creator-led platforms, on high alert. Everyone is watching to see how FTV responds and what the outcome will be. It sets a huge precedent for how adult content will be regulated in the UK moving forward.
Gill Whitehead, the Online Safety Group Director at Ofcom, left no doubt about the regulator’s intentions in a statement that sent a clear warning across the digital landscape.
“We have been clear with platforms about the importance of complying with their new duties to protect children. Now that the grace period is over, we are moving at pace to hold them to account,” she said. “We will not hesitate to use our full range of enforcement powers to hold platforms to account.”
For now, the investigation is underway, and the industry holds its breath. One thing is certain: the internet in the UK is changing, and this is just the beginning.
* Thumbnail from asnhub.com
