Joe W. of Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, recently appeared as a guest on the "Adult Site Broker Talk" podcast, hosted by Bruce. During the interview, Joe discussed his work as a Supervision Principal at Ofcom, focusing on the Online Safety Act and its implications for the adult industry.

Ofcom's Role and the Online Safety Act

Joe W. serves as a Supervision Principal at Ofcom, where his responsibilities include engaging with the adult industry. His work involves assisting industry members in understanding and complying with the requirements of the UK Online Safety Act. Ofcom, as the communications regulator for the UK, oversees telecommunications, postal services, broadcast television and radio, and online services. The regulator operates independently of the UK Government.

Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom is tasked with reducing online risks for UK users and providing additional protection for children. This includes ensuring that services have effective systems in place to address illegal content and prevent children from encountering pornography and other harmful material. The Online Safety Act can apply to any website or application that serves people in the UK. Specifically, pornography services are mandated to implement highly effective age-assurance systems to confirm that UK users are adults.

Joe and his team have been actively engaging with the industry since 2023. Their efforts have included speaking at conferences, conducting workshops, and developing guidance specifically tailored for website owners navigating the compliance process. Ofcom approaches its responsibilities through various methods, including holding public consultations on guidance, supervising services as they implement their duties, and utilizing formal enforcement powers when suspected violations occur.

One piece of guidance issued by Ofcom is the "Vet Your Vendor" report. This report was published to assist website owners in conducting due diligence when selecting an age-assurance provider.

The "Adult Site Broker Talk" Podcast

The "Adult Site Broker Talk" podcast, hosted by Bruce, featured Joe W. as its latest guest. Bruce, who is also the CEO of Adult Site Broker, expressed his long-standing interest in hearing from Ofcom. The episode is available for streaming on AdultSiteBroker.

Broader Regulatory Landscape and Industry Developments

The discussion on the "Adult Site Broker Talk" podcast occurs within a broader context of increasing regulatory scrutiny and industry adaptation. Recent developments highlight ongoing efforts by various regulatory bodies and legal actions within the adult industry.

On October 21, 2026, Sportsheets won a trademark infringement case against a copycat website, with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ruling in its favor. Similarly, Kink.com secured a victory in a trademark infringement case against a copycat website on October 19, 2026, also decided by WIPO.

In France, the media regulator Arcom is investigating the creator platform MYM. This investigation aims to determine if the site has violated age assurance rules or other requirements of France’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law, as reported on October 16, 2026.

The EU’s General Court ruled against Stripchat on October 14, 2026, rejecting a lawsuit that sought to annul a 2023 European Commission decision. This decision had designated Stripchat as a "very large online platform" (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

In the UK, England and Wales are set to enforce new laws starting November 6, criminalizing depictions of "non-fatal strangulation" and sexual content where adults portray underage characters. This announcement was made by the UK Ministry of Justice on October 16, 2026. Additionally, British media outlet Sky News reported on October 15, 2026, that the UK government has selected the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) for a pilot program. This program will monitor online pornography for illegal and "extreme" content as new content restrictions are prepared for enforcement.

Other industry news includes AEBN revealing its most popular performers for the third quarter of 2026 on October 20, 2026, with Kylie Rocket and Derek Kage topping the lists for straight and gay theaters, respectively. JustFor.fans (JFF) launched an Android-compatible version of its creator management mobile app, JFF Create, on October 20, 2026. On October 16, 2026, Fukuoka tech firm Fidem rolled out an open beta version of HandSome, a new Japanese Adult Video (JAV) content distribution platform built on blockchain technology. A federal report released by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on October 14, 2026, addressed debanking activities at nine large national banks but did not mention the adult industry, despite previous identification of the sector as facing banking discrimination.

Key Facts

  • Joe W. of Ofcom was a guest on the "Adult Site Broker Talk" podcast.
  • Joe W. is a Supervision Principal at Ofcom, the UK communications regulator.
  • His work involves helping the adult industry understand the UK Online Safety Act.
  • The Online Safety Act requires pornography services to implement highly effective age-assurance systems for UK users.
  • Ofcom's responsibilities include reducing online risks and protecting children from harmful material.
  • The podcast episode is available on AdultSiteBroker.