OnlyFans fined £1m over inaccurate responses to information requests

27 March 2025, 13:44

Onlyfans logo and website displayed on smartphone screen
Onlyfans logo and website displayed on smartphone screen. December 29, 2024. Picture: PA

The regulator said it had issued a fine of £1.05 million to the provider of the site, Fenix International.

The firm behind subscription site OnlyFans has been fined £1.05 million by Ofcom for failing to accurately respond to formal information requests.

The regulator said Fenix International Limited had been fined for not providing accurate information on its age assurance measures when requested.

In June 2022 and June 2023, Ofcom had sought details from Fenix on what age check measures it had in place on OnlyFans – but Fenix then proactively alerted Ofcom in January 2024 that it had provided incorrect information on the “challenge age” set for its age estimation technology.

As a result, Ofcom launched several investigations into Fenix in May last year.

We will hold platforms to high standards and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where we find failings

Suzanne Cater, Ofcom

Suzanne Cater, Ofcom’s enforcement director, said: “When we use our statutory powers to request information from platforms, they are required, by law, to ensure it is complete, accurate and delivered to us on time.

“Receiving accurate and complete information is fundamental for Ofcom to do its job as a regulator, and to understand and monitor how platforms are operating.

“We will hold platforms to high standards and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where we find failings.”

An OnlyFans spokesperson said: “OnlyFans recognises the importance of providing Ofcom with accurate and timely information.

“We welcome the conclusion of this process and Ofcom’s previous decision to close their investigation into our age assurance measures.”

Last month, Ofcom dropped another of its probes into OnlyFans, looking at whether the site was doing enough to prevent under-18s accessing pornography on the platform.

At the time the investigations into OnlyFans were first launched, the platform said a “coding configuration issue” around its age verification tools had led to the reporting error and that it was confident it had always met its obligations to protect under-18s from accessing restricted material.

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

People ride an upward escalator next to the Dior store at the Icon Siam shopping mall on June 12, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Luxury fashion giant Dior latest high-profile retailer to be hit by cyber attack as customer data accessed

A plane spotter with binoculars from behind watching a British Airways plane landing

‘Flying taxis’ could appear in UK skies as early as 2028, minister says

Apple App Store

Take on Apple and Google to boost UK economy, think tank says

A survey of more than 1,000 employers found that around one in eight thought AI would give them a competitive edge and would lead to fewer staff.

One in three employers believe AI will boost productivity, research finds

Hands on a laptop showing an AI search

One in three employers believe AI will boost productivity, research finds

Music creators and politicians take part in a protest calling on the Government to ditch plans to allow AI tech firms to steal their work without payment or permission opposite the Houses of Parliament in London.

Creatives face a 'kind-of apocalyptic moment’ over AI concerns, minister says

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria, Uganda

Chimps use medicinal plants to treat each other's wounds and practice 'self-care' as scientists hail fascinating discovery

Close up of a person's hands on the laptop keyboard

Ofcom investigating pornography site over alleged Online Safety Act breaches

The Monzo app on a smartphone

Monzo customers can cancel bank transfers if they quickly spot an error

Co-op sign

Co-op to re-stock empty shelves as it recovers from major hack

The study said that it was often too easy for adult strangers to pick out girls online and send them unsolicited messages.

Social media platforms are failing to protect women and girls from harm, new research reveals

Peter Kyle leaves 10 Downing Street, London

Government-built AI tool used to cut admin work for human staff

In its last reported annual headcount in June 2024, Microsoft employed 228,000 full-time workers

Microsoft axes 6,000 jobs despite strong profits in recent quarters

Airbnb logo

Airbnb unveils revamp as it expands ‘beyond stays’ to challenge hotel sector

A car key on top of a Certificate of Motor Insurance and Policy Schedule

Drivers losing thousands to ghost broker scams – the red flags to watch out for

Marks and Spencer cyber attack

M&S customers urged to ‘stay vigilant’ for fraud after data breach confirmed