UK website age checks could create Facebook of porn, critics warn

Fears draft rules could threaten users' privacy by letting one firm collect vast amounts of data

Draft rules for age verification on pornographic websites could put users' privacy at risk and give the world's biggest porn publisher a power similar to that of Facebook and Twitter, critics have said.

The guidance, which comes after the government passed a law last year forcing pornography sites to use age checks or face being blocked, states there is no legal requirement for sites to offer visitors a choice of age verification services.