by InTrieste
Italy will introduce a new age verification system for users attempting to access pornographic websites starting November 12, the Italian Communications Authority (AGCOM) announced this week. The measure, designed to prevent minors from viewing explicit material online, aligns with the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which includes provisions to safeguard minors in the digital sphere.
The new system marks a significant shift from the current model, in which users are merely asked to confirm that they are 18 or older by clicking a button. Under the revised framework, this self-declaration will be replaced by a two-step verification process managed by certified third parties such as banks, mobile operators, or digital identity providers that already possess users’ age information.
According to AGCOM, these third parties will issue anonymous codes confirming that a user is over 18 without revealing personal data. The website then validates the code before granting access. “The system ensures double anonymity,” the agency said, meaning that the verification provider will not know which website the person is accessing, and the website will not know the individual’s identity—only that they are of legal age.
Initially, around 50 adult websites will be required to comply with the new rules, including well-known platforms such as Pornhub, YourPorn, and OnlyFans. The list is expected to expand over time. The same verification system will also apply to online gambling sites and e-commerce platforms selling alcohol or cigarettes.
Users will be able to verify their age through various means, including dedicated apps connected to digital identity wallets on smartphones. Each time a person attempts to access an age-restricted site, they will need to complete the verification process anew.
The measure also has roots in the so-called Caivano Decree, a legislative package introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government in 2023 aimed at curbing juvenile crime and strengthening protections for minors.
Websites found to be in violation of the new regulations after November 12 will have 20 days to comply. Failure to do so could result in AGCOM ordering internet providers to block access to those sites within Italy.
The new policy places Italy among a growing number of European countries experimenting with stricter online age verification mechanisms, as governments grapple with how to balance privacy concerns and child protection in an increasingly digital world.
