40 
Looks like Playboy’s been a naughty bunny. Ofcom’s fined the smut-peddlers for doing what they do best, all while not protecting the kids well enough. Apparently anyone could gob an eyeful of hardcore with a just few clicks, no credit card required.
Ofcom found that Playboy didn’t have significantly stringent controls to block minors from accessing porn. The usual trick is requiring a credit card, even if there’s no charge, as that pretty much guarantees the user is 18, or has pinched their Dad’s card at the very least. Basically, it looks like Playboy was offering a free taster to get punters to shell out for a subscription, but it failed to verify age in an appropriate manner.
Ofcom fined Playboy’s Demand Adult and Playboy TV, £65,000 and £35,000 respectively. I understand that we don’t want our kids getting scarred for life by the horrors of hardcore smut, but surely when you can access literally legions of sites offering “free porn” with a quick search, this seems a bit moot? Still, it’s better than auto-blocking all adult content for everyone, I guess. [Guardian]
Image credit: Search from Shutterstock
Sony Gets a Whopping £250,000 Slap Across the Face For That PSN Hacking Mess
Slapping Your Brother Across the Face With an iPad Looks Like a Lot of Fun
1996: The Internet, According to Playboy
I bet they enjoyed it really, I’ve heard they like it rough.
“it failed to verify age in an appropriate manor”
I know, they should invite potential subscribers to the Playboy manor! That has got to be the most appropriate manor!
And there I thought they only wanted your credit card to charge you oodles and oodles of moolah.
i am surprised anyone actually pays for porn
“but it failed to verify age in an appropriate manner”
I don’t know Sam, I wouldn’t call Maner inappropriate, Kama Sutra is Indian after all.
:-p
What about all those sites where you just need to click a button that says you are over 18?