Internet Porn Site Regulation

https://news.sky.com/story/government-de...s-11288064

How much longer will this drag on

What a surprise...not

Good summary of where we're at and what might be the main points needing attention if this is going to happen: https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/7979...es-delayed

There's still some little confusion as to what is happening in the run up to the new AV date. In particular the press seem vague about when the three months businesses will have to implement their solutions will be. As far as I can make out this seems the likely chronology for AV implementation now:

19 March: A new code of practice (PAS 1296) for AV suppliers is published, sponsored by the DPA. (This date was announced on Thursday at a press conference* and it's a "due diligence code" according to theregister. Presumably this is part of the "draft" Guidance on Age-verification Arrangements and draft Guidance on Ancillary Service Providers the BBFC was supposed to be issuing "later this month" according to the March 10th press release that Munch linked to? )
Late March to Mid-April: BBFC runs a public consultation on these proposed AV solutions.
ca. Late April: Having considered all the responses the BBFC will publish them all "before submitting final versions of the Guidance to the Secretary of State for approval." (BBFC site) These (final?) guidelines will then be published. (These should outline how they are going to "police the space, detail what blocking those that don't comply will entail, and what the appeals process will be." Platform providers have so far been working on the 'best guess' as to what requirements these will contain for them.)
25 May: New EU General Data Protection Regulations come into effect. (Along with the UK's own new Data Protection Bill, current going through parliment and due to become law next year, the government thinks that these are adequate for AV privacy concerns, opponents disagree.)
20 July: Parliamentary summer recess begins.
4 September: Parliament resumes.
?Early September: House of Commons debate and vote on AV regulations. (MPs must vote in favour before full implementation can happen. Since conference month begins Sept. 13th this date seems the aim.)
September to December: Relevant firms have "up to" three months to implement AV solution(s).
Ca.Mid-December: Regulations are enforcable.

AgeID have also said that "We may test AgeID on a small sample of traffic prior to the law being enforced." Each site using their platform will have a non-pornographic landing page especially for UK users. (wired.co.uk)

Meanwhile, the chairman of the DPA has admitted trying to AV social media sites, Twitter in particular, would be a no-go with the public. He confirms that social media sites haven't even engaged with the government on the matter. (This is why the government have been resorting to sound bites suggesting more self-regulation should come from them of late.)

Like theregister, I wonder if the government has finally realised, amongst other things, that trying to push this through with AgeID as the "only practical solution" (The independent) was a very bad idea. The delay will hopefully allow others to pitch in.
The BBFC site states: "We expect to see a number of solutions [emerging]." The DPA chair suggested the BBFC could mandate that the public is given a choice of AV gateways on each site (more cost to the websites). That would be interesting if applied to the babeshows sites.

Previously unreferenced main sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-43370999
https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/12/17108...nd-of-year
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2...tion-rules

* Check out how the peer involved continues to patronise critics. Claiming that privacy concerns couldn't be address in the documents around te DEB because they were covered elsewhere, he says "[perhaps] that's too subtle for the organisations that have been trying to take a swing at it." Erm... no, perhaps you should consider communicating your intent to the public more clearly and actually address the true nature of the lawyer-made argument - that things are not specific enough in those other bills.

Code of practice for AV providers is available. A snip at £108 a copy : https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/...0030328409

This tech lawyer is not much impressed: https://mobile.twitter.com/neil_neilzone...8452416512

Particularly with the use of the term "consent" and how it apparently conflicts with requirements of the new Data Protection regs (GDPR). Someone want to ask Lord Erroll?!

66% of UK public are not aware that AV is coming according to provider survey: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/5885459/po...ification/

Plus probably the most in depth article we've seen on this sorry mess from a mainstream source: https://www.theregister.co.uk/AMP/2018/0...deep_dive/

The BBFC has put up its draft Guidance on Age-Verification Arrangements and its draft Guidance on Ancillary Service Providers: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-bbfc/dea-consultation

This marks the start of the public consultation period on what kind of AV they are implementing. Viz...

The BBFC Wrote:The draft guidance outlines good practice [for porn providers], such as offering choice of age-verification solutions to consumers. It also includes information about the requirements that age-verification services and online pornography providers must adhere to under data protection legislation and the role and functions of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Note they are not at this time suggesting they are to mandate a choice of more than one AV gateway on each site.

They also want opinons on their "non-exclusive" list of Ancillary providers or, as they describe them, the 'enablers and facilitators' of the porn industry online. This group includes social media and search engine sites, as well as the obvious credit card suppliers etc.

The documents also set out the BBFC's approach and powers in relation to non-compliance and "considerations in terms of enforcement action" in relation to both sets of providers.

The deadline for responses is the 23 April 2018.

It's not immediately clear how long the BBFC will then take in their considerations before turning over their full recommendactions to the government, but they must be hoping this consultation proves largely for show. One would think they have heard all the arguments by now, think they can counter and will want to run with this draft largely as is asap. How much time will they want to give MP's for them to mull it over prior to their holidays and the Commons debate is another factor.

Useful delineation of the interesting bits from the BBFC pdf's: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/03/26...line_smut/

Some Myles Jackman and other insiders comments on the draft proposals are in this Guardian piece: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2...itics-warn

I'm guessing that I'm not the only person to notice this trend.
On Fernanda Ferrari Official Instagram the picture was censored using felt pen and Marcus advises that an uncensored version is on Twitter.
I see that S66 censor their pictures on their Instagram. Fernanda herself remarked on BGF a few weeks ago that a film of her on the beach in Thailand was taken down and these days her front is rarely shown.

So, for the dense among us (me) - what happens in December - will I get a big ugly message every time I log on to Pornhub to say "Tell us your age", and that's it? Or do they want full names, addresses, mobile numbers, gas bills and the like to verify who you are?