New system takes effect on 12 November in move to prevent minors from accessing porn.

Italy is to introduce a new age verification system for users attempting to access pornographic websites, the Italian Communications Authority (AGCOM) said on Friday.

The move will take effect from 12 November and is aimed at preventing minors from accessing pornography online, in line with the European Digital Service Act to protect minors.

AGCOM published an initial list of around 50 websites which will be subject to the stringent new rules, including well-known sites such as PornHub, YourPorn and OnlyFans, with the list set to be updated over time.

The pilot programme will require users to verify their age when attempting to access websites featuring pornography or gambling as well as online platforms offering the sale of alcohol and cigarettes.

Currently, to access porn sites, users simply have to declare that they are “18 or older” with the click of a button, leaving the system wide open to minors.

How the new system works

The key change from 12 November will be the elimination of this self-declaration of age, with the new two-step system requiring verification from “certified third parties” such as a company, bank or mobile operator which already has this data.

The third party verifies that the person is 18 years of age and then issues a code that can be used to access the porn site.

The code contains only information about the person’s age and no other information about their identity.

The porn site then verifies the validity of the code and grants the user access.

It will also be possible to use dedicated apps installed on users’ smartphone or device, such as those linked to digital identity wallets.

This age verification system must be carried out each time users access the site.

Double anonymity

The new system centres on privacy protection and the concept of “double anonymity”, ensuring that the website only receives proof that the user is over 18, without knowing their identity.

Simultaneously, the age verification provider knows the user’s identity but not the specific website they are trying to access.

Caivano Decree

In addition to following European regulations, the new AGCOM rules stem from the provisions set out in the so-called Caivano Law, the legislative decree approved in 2023 by Giorgia Meloni’s government, which introduced several new measures to combat juvenile crime.

Websites found to be in violation of the new rules after 12 November will reportedly be given 20 days to comply or risk being blocked within Italy by AGCOM.

UK example

On Friday, Pornhub said the number of UK visitors to its website was down 77 per cent compared with July, when more rigorous age checks for sexually explicit sites were introduced under the Online Safety Act, the BBC reports.

Britain’s telecom and media regulator Ofcom said that visits to pornography sites in general in the UK have reduced by almost a third in the three months since age checks came into force on 25 July.