In an unusual but deliberate outreach effort, representatives from the UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, walked the floor of an international adult entertainment conference over the weekend, clipboard in hand and dressed in crisp white shirts, to encourage pornographic platforms to comply with the UK’s new Online Safety Act.

Three members of Ofcom’s “Porn Portfolio team” attended the industry event, held in Prague and attended by over 1,700 delegates, many of whom were wary of the new rules mandating age verification for adult content. TES Prague is a popular adult industry event, especially for those in the affiliate sector.

The Online Safety Act, which took effect on July 27, requires websites hosting pornography to introduce “robust” measures to ensure underage users cannot access explicit content.

“We exist to help you,” one Ofcom regulator told a group of adult site operators during a compliance presentation. “It’s hard. There are many things you need to know, but we are here to support the industry through compliance.”

While the conference featured performances by feathered dancers and champagne served by sponsors, the regulators handed out anonymous paper questionnaires, asking site operators if they had implemented age checks or intended to comply.

Despite Ofcom’s cooperative tone, skepticism and concern remain. Operators raised pressing questions about costs, the risk of sabotage from competitors reporting noncompliance, and the effectiveness of blocking UK traffic. There were also fears about enforcement — especially fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue — and unease over the simultaneous regulatory tightening in France and the U.S.

Some operators have already opted to block UK access entirely, while others have rushed to adopt age verification tools. According to Ofcom, all of the top 10 adult websites and most of the top 100 have complied, either by implementing age checks or geoblocking UK users. Usage of age verification services reportedly jumped from 1 million visits in June to 7.5 million in August.

Still, early implementation has triggered a surge in VPN downloads, as users seek to circumvent verification, a development the Free Speech Coalition called “disastrous.”

So far, no fines have been issued under the new law; however, 12 investigations are currently active, covering over 60 sites and apps. Ofcom’s strategy includes a dedicated enforcement team of 40 staff and a Porn Portfolio team of six compliance officers, which has also visited industry events in Berlin, Amsterdam, and Los Angeles.

Despite the tense atmosphere, some in the industry acknowledged the significance of Ofcom’s presence. “In the U.S., people really don’t want to talk to us,” said Alex Kekesi, VP of Brand and Community at Pornhub. “We appreciate that Ofcom has invited us to have a seat at the table.”

Beyond age checks, site owners also expressed confusion over moderating AI-generated content, especially regarding compliance with laws against child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

“AI doesn’t understand the difference between a young-looking adult and a child,” said one operator, noting the difficulty of teaching AI ethical boundaries.

Steve Jones, who runs an AI porn site, explained that his company uses specific visual restrictions banning braces, pigtails, and teddy bears to prevent the generation of content that could resemble minors.

Ofcom maintains that the primary goal of the legislation is to prevent children from accidentally accessing pornography. “Companies can choose not to comply and take the risk,” one official said. “But enforcement is designed to change that balance.”

Despite the resistance, Ofcom insists its priority is collaboration, not punishment, and that its presence at events like these signals a desire to work directly with the adult industry toward safer online environments.

“We’re not trying to kill you,” said one legal expert at the event. “They just want to push you in the right direction.”