UK stands firm on age-verification law despite petition from 370,000 citizens

The UK government has rejected a public petition calling for repeal of the Online Safety Act. More than 377,000 people signed in protest against the new age-verification requirements that came into force on 25 July 2025. These rules mean users now often must upload ID, scan their face, or share credit card details to access a range of websites—from social media to adult content sites.

What the petition asked for

The petition argued that the Online Safety Act’s scope is too broad. It warned that small forums, hobby groups and civil society sites risk being forced offline because they cannot afford the required verification systems.

Supporters believe the law could restrict free expression and community conversation about seemingly harmless topics by imposing burdens on niche platforms.

Government response

Despite breaching the 100,000-signature threshold needed for parliamentary consideration, the government has no intention of repealing the Act. Officials emphasise that the law aims to protect users—especially children—from online harm while allowing low-risk services to operate with support from Ofcom.

Official defence and tone of debate

In a more forceful public response, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, implied that critics of the Act were siding with dangerous actors, describing them as on the side of “extreme pornographers” and “predators”. This rhetoric has raised concerns that public criticism is being framed as being anti-safety or anti-children.

What this means for internet users

For many, the message is clear: age checks are mandatory and non-negotiable, regardless of popular opposition. Users who value privacy or seek to access content without ID may turn to workarounds such as VPNs—which have seen huge spikes in usage since the law took effect.

Still, Ofcom has pledged to take a “sensible approach” to enforcement, especially with small services that pose low risks to users