Thursday 26 Mar 2026 @ 16:20
Information Commissioner's Office
Printable version

Joint statement from ICO and Ofcom on age assurance

We have published a joint statement with Ofcom about the main areas of interaction between online safety and data protection as they relate to age assurance. We are working closely together on our shared goal of protecting children from harm online.  

The statement is aimed at services likely to be accessed by children that are in scope of the Online Safety Act and UK data protection legislation. It summarises key aspects of existing ICO and Ofcom age assurance policy in a practical way to help organisations comply with both online safety and data protection obligations. 

Read the statement in full here. 

 

Channel website: https://ico.org.uk/

Original article link: https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2026/03/joint-statement-from-ico-and-ofcom-on-age-assurance/

Share this article

Latest News from
Information Commissioner's Office

Open letter issued to tech firms to strengthen age checks and protect children’s data

12/03/2026 17:10:00

We have today published an open letter to social media and video‑sharing platforms operating in the UK, calling on them to strengthen age assurance measures so young children can’t access services that are not designed for them. 

Police Scotland fined £66k and reprimanded following serious data mishandling

12/03/2026 15:10:00

We have issued a £66,000 fine and a reprimand to Police Scotland for serious failures in the handling of sensitive personal information. 

Reddit issued with £14.47m fine for children’s privacy failures

24/02/2026 12:25:00

We have fined Reddit £14.47m after finding the company failed to use children’s personal information lawfully.

International Data Protection Authorities issue joint statement on privacy risks of AI-generated imagery

24/02/2026 09:10:00

Data protection authorities from across the globe have today published a Joint Statement on AI-Generated Imagery. 

ICO wins Court of Appeal case in DSG Retail ruling

20/02/2026 16:05:00

We welcome the Court of Appeal’s (CoA) ruling that we have succeeded in our appeal against the decision of the Upper Tribunal on DSG Retail Limited (DSG). 

Update: Further convictions in UK’s largest nuisance call investigation

18/02/2026 16:15:00

We are pleased to announce that two further individuals have been convicted following our extensive investigation into the unlawful accessing and sale of personal information obtained from over 400 garages across the UK, as well as claims management and insurance companies. 

Update: Further Convictions in UK’s Largest Nuisance Call Investigation

12/02/2026 12:25:00

We are pleased to announce that two further individuals have been convicted following our extensive investigation into the unlawful accessing and sale of personal information obtained from over 400 garages across the UK, as well as claims management and insurance companies.

Statement on the commencement of the Data (Use and Access) Act (DUAA)

06/02/2026 10:20:00

The next phase of the Data (Use and Access) Act (DUAA) implementation commenced yesterday, 5 February 2026. This means that most of the remaining data protection provisions of the Act have come into force, except for the requirement for organisations to have a complaints procedure which is due to commence on 19 June 2026 and some ICO governance provisions which will follow at a later date. 

Imgur owner MediaLab fined over children’s privacy failures

06/02/2026 09:20:00

We have fined MediaLab.AI, Inc. (MediaLab), owner of image sharing and hosting platform Imgur, £247,590 for failing to use children’s personal information lawfully.