Ofcom head says age checks are ‘really big moment’ for children’s online safety

Melanie Dawes says rules will protect children from harmful content but campaigners are unconvinced

The UK's chief media regulator has promised age verification checks will prove a really big moment" in the battle to keep children safe online, even as campaigners warn she needs to take tougher action against big technology companies.

Melanie Dawes, the head of Ofcom, said on Sunday that the new checks, which have to be in place later this month, would prove a turning point in regulating the behaviour of the world's biggest online platforms.