Concerns Rise Over Absence of Online Age Checks
- markdarrenwilkinso
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Concerns have been raised in Jersey’s political circles after a recent review revealed that adult websites accessible on the island do not require age verification, leaving children potentially more exposed than their peers in the UK.
The UK introduced mandatory age checks for pornography sites in July, aiming to prevent under-18s from viewing explicit material. However, a review by Jersey’s Education Scrutiny Panel found that relying on UK regulations to indirectly protect young people in Jersey was a flawed assumption. The panel warned that, without equivalent measures, “children in Jersey may now face fewer barriers to accessing inappropriate content than their UK counterparts.”
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel, responding to the findings, said new legislation was being prepared that would give individuals the power to request the removal of harmful online content.
Morel had previously told the Children’s Scrutiny Panel in May that the government was not actively pursuing age verification rules for adult sites. He noted that, in practice, Jersey users accessing UK-based platforms would generally have to comply with the UK’s verification systems.
“That is the reality of the situation as it stands today,” he said.
Speaking in the States Assembly on 11 November, Deputy Catherine Curtis highlighted the problem, noting that when UK age-verification laws came into force, they were not mirrored in Jersey.
“Children, driven by curiosity, will access this type of material at a young age”
“Children, driven by curiosity, will access this type of material at a young age,” she said, citing survey data showing that one in ten children has viewed adult content by the age of nine.
Morel acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, calling the review “incredibly helpful” and stressing the government’s commitment to improving online safety. He added that upcoming legislation would provide new mechanisms for people of all ages to have damaging material removed from the internet.
