What was the total amount of the fine imposed on Xgroovy.com?

The total fine imposed on Xgroovy.com was £730,000, consisting of £700,000 for failing age checks and £30,000 for not responding to an information request.

Ofcom Fines Xgroovy.com £730,000 for Age Verification Failures

Q: Who fined Xgroovy.com and why?

Ofcom, the UK's digital regulator, fined Xgroovy.com for failing to implement age verification checks for British users and for not responding to a legally required information request.

Q: What is the Online Safety Act and what does it require?

The Online Safety Act is a UK law that requires sites hosting pornographic material to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing such content.

Q: What action did Xgroovy.com take after the regulatory action?

Xgroovy.com introduced a form of age assurance and subsequently 'geoblocked' access from UK IP addresses, making it no longer directly available to people in the UK.

Ofcom has fined adult site Xgroovy.com £730,000 for failing to implement age verification for UK users and ignoring information requests, enforcing the Online Safety Act.

Ofcom, the United Kingdom's digital regulator, has fined the operator of adult tube site Xgroovy.com a total of £730,000 for failing to implement age verification checks for British users and for not responding to a legally required information request.

Regulatory Action Against Xgroovy.com

The UK's independent online safety watchdog, Ofcom, announced on September 4, 2026, that it had imposed two fines on the provider of Xgroovy.com. The primary penalty, amounting to £700,000, was levied because the site's operator failed to meet age check duties mandated by the Online Safety Act. This failure occurred between July 2025 and November 2025.

An additional £30,000 penalty was issued for Xgroovy's failure to respond to a legally binding request for information. Ofcom's statement indicated that a daily penalty of £200 would also be imposed until the information is provided or until November 3, 2026, whichever comes sooner.

George Lusty, Ofcom's head of enforcement, stated that the message to adult websites is clear: effective age checks must be in place to prevent children from accessing pornography. Lusty added that companies failing to do so, or ignoring legally binding requests, should anticipate fines.

The Online Safety Act requires sites hosting pornographic material to use highly effective age assurance to determine if a user is over 18, thereby preventing children from accessing such content. Ofcom confirmed that the provider of Xgroovy.com has since introduced a form of age assurance capable of being highly effective. Following this, the site subsequently 'geoblocked' access from UK IP addresses, meaning it is no longer directly available to people in the UK. Ofcom stated it would continue to monitor the site for compliance.

Broader Enforcement of Online Safety Act

This action against Xgroovy.com marks a significant step in the implementation of the UK’s Online Safety Act, demonstrating that age assurance requirements are moving from policy commitments to active regulatory enforcement. Ofcom's decision to impose financial penalties on non-compliant providers signals that online platforms hosting adult content are expected to adopt effective measures to prevent children's access.

The case also reflects a broader international trend towards stronger child online safety regulation. Gathering accurate information from companies is fundamental to Ofcom's role in enhancing online safety for people in the UK, as these requests help assess and monitor industry compliance with safety duties.

Earlier, on June 22, 2026, Ofcom had imposed an £80,000 fine on pornography provider First Time Videos LLC for failing to implement legally required age assurance measures under the Online Safety Act. The regulator concluded that First Time Videos LLC failed to implement the 'highly effective' age assurance measures necessary to prevent children from accessing pornographic content. Ofcom stated that robust age assurance measures are a central requirement of the UK’s online safety framework and play a key role in protecting minors online.

Alongside the enforcement action against First Time Videos LLC, Ofcom announced its provisional view that Xgroovy.com might also have failed to comply with age assurance obligations under the legislation. The regulator further expanded an existing investigation into Sun Social Media Inc. to cover an additional adult website operated by that company.

Ofcom determined the penalty with regard to the size and turnover of the service, ensuring that the sanction remained proportionate while reinforcing compliance expectations across the sector.

Key Facts

Ofcom fined Xgroovy.com's operator a total of £730,000.
A £700,000 fine was for failing to implement age verification checks between July 2025 and November 2025.
An additional £30,000 fine was for failing to respond to a legally required information request.
A daily penalty of £200 will be imposed until the information is provided or November 3, 2026.
Xgroovy.com has since introduced age assurance and geoblocked UK access.
George Lusty, Ofcom's head of enforcement, emphasized the need for effective age checks on adult websites.