I believe when it comes to prostitution sites

Ana, I believe all kinds of things; that doesn't make any of them true.

Please post a direct quote from the relevant section of the Online Safety Bill which substantiates this, since none of the previous posters who have carefully read the whole thing managed to spot it. If you can't then stop scaremongering as it's really not helpful.

Again, that's the Online Safety Bill, aka the topic of this thread. The topic of this thread is not SOSTA, or FESTA and it is certainly not Backpage (which is now so long gone at least one poster upthread had never even heard of it) and I don't understand why you keep bringing them up? We are not in the US, or Qatar, or any other puritannical country that also outlaws prostitution. Online. Safety. Bill. UK.

Stay on topic or your posts will be removed because they're misleading to other posters and derailing the thread. And for the second time in a week, can we please use some bloody paragraphs?

Ofcom consultation:

Guidance for service providers publishing pornographic content.

Quick note: you can see the whole documents on Ofcom website ("home"-then head to "Consultation")

"Currently, services publishing pornographic content online do not have sufficient measures in place to prevent children from accessing this content. Many grant children access to pornographic content without age checks, or by relying on checks that only require the user to confirm that they are over the age of 18.

The Online Safety Act is clear that service providers publishing pornographic content online must implement age assurance which is highly effective at correctly determining whether or not a user is a child to prevent children from normally encountering their online pornographic content.

This consultation focuses on our draft guidance to assist providers of online services that publish or display regulated provider pornographic content in complying with their age assurance and record-keeping duties under the Act."

According to the definition of the law, pornographic content is "content of a nature that can reasonably be assumed to have been produced exclusively or primarily for the purpose of sexual excitement".

 "Pornographic content can include any content that falls under the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) category R18, which is 'primarily works of explicit sexual consent or strong fetish material involving adults.'

  "However, other content of a strong sexual nature, aimed at sexual arousal or incitement, which would not fall under this classification, may also be treated as pornography."

From a general/practical POV it's normally detailed or closeup depictions of genitals and/or sexual acts. Topless pictures/non explicit nudes wouldn't count.

You don’t even have to verify your AW number anymore unless you want to do phone chat / instant messaging

Whilst this has been distracting, the Human Trafficking report has been published containing some very concerning recommendations including mention of advertising websites. Some of the recommendations are fair enough but the general message is customers drive demand, and the phrase 'sex work' should not be used.

I know that at least one dominatrix directory I advertise on is changing its photo policy to no nude, no topless, no extreme acts etc etc just lingerie/clothed photos and some other restrictions, so they can try and avoid needing viewers to their site to sign in with IDs etc.

I would guess others, like Adultwork, that aren't just directories but adult content sites will have to initiate ID checks. I don't know what that will do to their traffic, I imagine it'll take a hit of some kind, but how much, piece of string etc.

I believe (please correct me if I'm wrong as I hardly use AW) that your main profile photos cannot be nude but your galleries can? So maybe punters can access main profiles that contain no nudity but will have to verify to access private galleries?

If they want to see private galleries they have to be a member and buy credits

By buying credits I'm think  that means they are over 18 so they would already be verified  ( I’m sure I have read this somewhere on AW t &c