Playboy Fined $167,000 By UK Watchdog Agency

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British regulators have fined Playboy $167,000 after finding its Playboy Demand Adult and Playboy TV Web sites do not provide sufficient controls to shield children from their content. According to the UK media watchdog, the two Web sites offer hardcore videos and pornographic images that can be accessed by minors. Ofcom called the violations “serious, repeated and reckless.”

Ofcom stated the homepage for Playboy’s Demand Adult displays hardcore pornographic material that can be accessed by simply clicking a button labeled “Enter I am over 18,” with no further validation the statement is true. Users can then access additional paid content with a debit card. Ofcom calls neither control an effective age-verification system.

Likewise, Playboy TV asks users to self-certify their age, but does not show explicit material on its home page. Users can still access pornographic material by registering a debit card.

In the UK, both sites are regulated by Ofcom and the Authority for Video on Demand because they provide access to videos similar to adult services broadcast on television. The agency fined Playboy $104,000 for the Demand Adult violations and $63,000 in penalties for the Playboy TV site.

According to Ofcom, an effective age control might include asking for credit card details since such accounts are not available to those under the age of 18.