Major adult platforms including Pornhub and Reddit must introduce advanced age verification under the Online Safety Act to block under-18s from accessing explicit content.

Why Is This Happening Now?

The UK’s Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, was designed to better protect children online, and one of its most high-profile provisions is now coming into force. For example, from 25 July, commercial pornography providers must implement “robust” age checks to stop minors from viewing explicit content. Media regulator Ofcom will oversee enforcement, and companies that don’t comply risk fines of up to £18 million or 10 per cent of global turnover.

Years of Warnings

The change comes after years of warnings about the ease with which children can currently access adult material. For example, a 2023 study commissioned by the UK government found that two-thirds of children aged 13–17 had seen online pornography, with many accessing it accidentally from mainstream sites. Until now, many porn sites only required users to click a box confirming they were over 18, a system Ofcom now calls “clearly insufficient”.

What the New Rules Require

Under the new law, pornographic sites must use “high assurance” age verification methods to prevent underage access. While they don’t need to identify users by name, they do need to check (reliably) that someone is over 18. The Act doesn’t mandate a single system, but Ofcom has recommended several approved methods.

Platforms must also ensure these checks are secure and privacy-preserving. If they fail to act, Ofcom has a range of enforcement options, from fines to blocking the site entirely within the UK. Payment providers and advertisers can also be ordered to withdraw support.

What Age Verification Methods Will Be Used?

In line with the new regulations, Ofcom has recommended a range of approved technologies that can be used to confirm someone’s age without necessarily revealing their identity. These include:

– Credit Card Checks. Users input card details, and a transaction is initiated to confirm the card is valid and held by an adult. Companies like Verifymy say they don’t share any personal information with the site itself, only returning a yes/no answer.

– Digital Identity Wallets. Digital ID apps such as Yoti or Luciditi allow users to store verified credentials (e.g., passport or driver’s licence data) and share only the necessary attribute, in this case, being over 18. The encrypted data remains under the user’s control.

– Facial Age Estimation. AI technology analyses a live photo or video to estimate whether a person is over 18. Yoti claims this can be accurate to within 1.5 years for most age groups. Critics say the idea of scanning faces to watch porn could deter users or raise privacy alarms.

– Mobile Network Checks. Some services can confirm age via a mobile phone contract, though pay-as-you-go users are often excluded.

– Open Banking Verification. By connecting to a user’s bank account, providers can check age without seeing transaction history. This option is privacy-focused but may feel excessive for users.

– Email Age Estimation. This method analyses where an email address has been used (e.g. with banks or energy firms) to estimate whether the user is likely to be an adult.

– Photo ID Uploads. Users upload a picture of a government-issued ID and a selfie. These are then matched to verify identity and age.

Each method comes with trade-offs in terms of accuracy, ease of use, and user privacy — and websites can use a combination to give users choice.

Who’s Implementing It And How?

Major adult platforms are now confirming their plans. Pornhub and several sister sites, owned by parent company Aylo, have announced they will adopt “government-approved age assurance methods”, though they haven’t specified which ones. Previously, Aylo withdrew access in some regions, such as Utah and Virginia in the US, after similar laws passed.

Reddit, meanwhile, is one of the first mainstream platforms to implement the new UK requirements. From 14 July, it began age-checking users who attempt to view “mature content” in the UK. It is using an external firm, Persona, which offers either a selfie scan or a passport photo upload. Reddit claims it won’t see the data itself, storing only a user’s date of birth and verification status.

Ofcom has welcomed these moves and warned that “other companies must now follow suit or face enforcement”.

Will It Work?

Supporters say the new rules are long overdue. Baroness Kidron, founder of the 5Rights Foundation, argues that age gates must be credible and secure if children are to be protected from harmful material. Ofcom estimates around 14 million UK adults access pornography online, and in their view, age checks can still allow legal adult access while excluding minors.

However, the plans have drawn criticism from civil liberties groups, privacy advocates, and digital policy experts.

Some argue the new rules set a troubling precedent for online freedom. David Greene, civil liberties director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, described the legislation as a “tragedy”, warning that it effectively forces UK internet users to “show their papers” just to access lawful content.

Others question whether the approach will even be effective. Scott Babwah Brennen, of New York University’s Center on Technology Policy, noted that “there’s always going to be ways that kids can get around it,” and pointed to ongoing concerns about who collects verification data and how long it is retained.

Also, technology experts have warned that certain methods, such as facial age estimation or digital identity wallets, may feel disproportionate to the risk. While technically effective, these approaches risk normalising invasive identity checks for everyday online activities, potentially reshaping expectations around privacy across the internet.

Implications For Adult Content Providers

In terms of the implications for adult content providers, beyond the technical implementation costs, businesses risk losing traffic if users find the checks too intrusive. Some sites, like Pornhub in the US, have previously gone dark in protest at similar legislation.

In the UK, however, the financial penalties for non-compliance are now high enough to compel widespread implementation. Businesses may need to partner with certified age-checking firms, which will add another layer of cost, regulation, and liability.

Advertisers and payment processors are also under pressure. For example, Ofcom’s powers include ordering them to withdraw services from non-compliant sites, raising the stakes for the wider digital economy. For example, mainstream brands may need to re-evaluate where their ads appear and how age-gated content affects user flows.

What About Everyday Users?

For UK users, the experience of accessing adult content is about to change and possibly in ways that feel awkward or invasive. While age verification systems aim to be quick and anonymous, the requirement to share biometric data, ID scans, or bank access may put some people off entirely.

There are also broader concerns about data safety. For example, while verification firms like Yoti and Persona stress that they don’t store images or pass data to the adult sites, the reassurance will depend heavily on user trust and transparent processes.

As Iain Corby of the Age Verification Providers Association put it: “The only non-hackable database is no database at all.” However, even with privacy safeguards, the reality remains that the UK is about to become one of the first countries where accessing pornography will routinely require proof of adulthood.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Ofcom’s enforcement powers mean adult content providers now face direct commercial consequences for non-compliance, including fines, site blocks, and service withdrawal by payment processors or advertisers. Many will need to integrate external age assurance systems quickly, absorbing new costs and operational complexity while trying to retain user trust and engagement.

Mainstream platforms hosting adult or mature content are also affected. Reddit’s early adoption signals how widely these obligations apply, and more companies are likely to follow to avoid regulatory action. Businesses in adjacent sectors, including advertisers and mobile providers, will need to reassess how their services intersect with regulated content and whether their current systems meet Ofcom’s standards.

For users, the experience of accessing adult material will now become more controlled, and in some cases, more uncomfortable. While most verification systems avoid full identity disclosure, the requirement to submit a facial scan, ID image or bank-linked account introduces friction that didn’t previously exist. It’s likely that some users may withdraw entirely or turn to alternative platforms, raising questions about the law’s effectiveness.

From a business perspective, the changes signal a wider move towards regulated digital identity checks across age-restricted services where pornography is simply the first and most obvious test case. Online gambling, social platforms, and even e-commerce providers selling restricted goods may face similar expectations in the near future. For UK firms, especially those working with younger audiences or regulated content, this shift will demand investment in age assurance, transparency, and user communication, or risk falling foul of a new era of digital accountability.

Users in the United States can now ask Google Search to make real-world phone calls for them, gathering service and pricing information from local businesses without speaking to anyone themselves.

AI Used in Local Enquiries

Google has rolled out a new AI-powered calling feature within Search that allows users to collect information from businesses such as pet groomers, garages, and dental clinics. Instead of having to make a phone call personally, users can now instruct Google’s AI to handle the enquiry on their behalf.

UK Soon?

The feature is currently available to all Search users in the United States. It’s worth noting here that although Google has not provided a confirmed timeline for the UK launch of this feature, based on the company’s typical rollout strategy for Search and Gemini features, a wider international release often follows within several months of a successful US launch.

How To Use It

Using the new AI-powered agentic calling feature, when someone searches for a service like “dog groomers near me”, a new option appears offering to “Have AI check pricing”. Users are then asked a few follow-up questions, such as what type of pet they have, what service they need, and when they would prefer an appointment. From there, Google’s AI makes the call, gathers information, and returns a summary by email or text.

According to Google, every call begins with a clear announcement that it is an automated system from Google acting on behalf of a user. This is intended to prevent confusion and maintain transparency, especially after earlier versions of the technology were criticised for sounding too human and failing to identify themselves clearly.

How the Technology Works

In terms of the tech behind it, the feature uses a combination of Google’s Gemini model and its existing Duplex technology, which has been used for AI voice calls since 2018. Duplex originally drew attention for its ability to make bookings or ask for opening hours using natural-sounding speech, but was temporarily scaled back due to concerns about transparency and practical usage limits.

However, this new version is more focused and practical, targeting specific types of local businesses and providing structured information directly back to the user. The use of Gemini helps the system handle follow-up questions and summarise results more clearly, while Duplex provides the voice interface that handles the actual phone call.

Google has stated that business owners retain control and can opt out of receiving these calls via their Google Business Profile settings.

Access, Availability, and Cost

The AI calling feature is free to use and is currently being made available to all Search users in the US. However, those subscribed to Google’s AI Pro and AI Ultra plans will benefit from higher usage limits, allowing them to make more AI-driven requests each day.

Google AI Pro is priced at 19.99 US dollars per month. Subscribers gain access not only to enhanced call limits but also to a broader set of advanced AI features across other Google products, including Docs, Gmail, and Search.

There is no confirmed launch date for international availability, but Google has indicated that it plans to expand access globally over time.

Convenient

This feature may appeal most to people who prefer not to make calls themselves. For example, younger users in particular have shown in surveys that they are more likely to avoid phone conversations where possible. For many, the ability to compare availability and pricing from several providers without needing to speak to anyone may be seen as a welcome convenience.

For example, someone looking for car servicing could quickly receive quotes from three nearby garages with minimal effort. The AI not only makes the call but ensures the response is presented clearly and directly.

Mixed Impact For Businesses

For businesses, however, the impact may be more mixed. For example, while the system could generate new leads, it also adds a layer of automation that some business owners may find disruptive or unfamiliar. Staff answering the phone must be prepared to speak with an automated caller and provide information in a way that can be understood and relayed accurately.

Part of a Bigger Transformation in Search

Google’s introduction of AI calling is really part of a wider evolution of Search towards more agentic, action-oriented tools. For example, at the same time as launching this calling feature, the company also announced the rollout of two other significant updates for users on its AI Pro and AI Ultra subscription tiers, i.e. Gemini 2.5 Pro in AI Mode, and a new Deep Search capability designed for complex research tasks.

Gemini 2.5 Pro Comes to AI Mode

AI Mode is Google’s conversational interface in Search that allows users to pose complex or multi-part questions and receive structured answers with helpful links. Until now, it used a version of Gemini based on the 1.5 model. However, with the new rollout, paying subscribers can now switch to Gemini 2.5 Pro, a more advanced model that performs better in coding, mathematics, and advanced reasoning.

Users can select Gemini 2.5 Pro from a drop-down menu within AI Mode. The new model offers clearer logic, better problem-solving abilities, and more precise answers. Google says it is especially helpful for users tackling more technical tasks, such as software development or quantitative research.

Deep Search Adds Multi-Step Research Capabilities

Also new is Deep Search, a feature designed to save users hours of research by allowing the AI to run hundreds of background searches and reason across different sources. The result is a fully cited and structured report that addresses a query in depth.

Google says Deep Search is useful for work-related research, hobbies, academic study, or life decisions such as evaluating mortgages or comparing investment options. Rather than manually visiting multiple websites and comparing answers, users receive a compiled response that includes context, sources, and suggestions.

This feature is currently available to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the United States who have opted into Google’s AI Mode experiments in Labs. It builds on the trend of shifting from traditional search queries towards more autonomous AI assistance.

Impressive Tools with Practical Considerations

The new agentic features represent a major change in how people interact with information online. Instead of simply retrieving answers, Google’s AI now takes action on the user’s behalf, whether by conducting research or placing real-world phone calls.

However, the effectiveness of these tools will depend on adoption and reliability. If local businesses do not respond well to AI calls, or if the information returned is inconsistent, the user experience could suffer. Similarly, the shift towards subscription-based access raises concerns about accessibility, especially if more functionality becomes limited to paying users.

Even so, the direction is clear. Google is continuing to reshape Search into a more proactive and intelligent assistant, with features that aim to remove friction from both digital and real-world tasks. As the company put it in its announcement, “We’re bringing some of our most cutting-edge AI features to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers first, and we look forward to continuing to bring advanced capabilities in Search to all our users globally.”

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Google is clearly moving Search from a place to find answers to a tool that completes tasks. Features like AI-powered calling change how users interact with businesses, removing the need for phone conversations altogether in some cases. If rolled out in the UK, this could directly affect how service providers handle enquiries, especially in sectors like grooming, repairs, and healthcare. Businesses that respond promptly and provide accurate, up-to-date information through their Google listings will be better placed to benefit. Those that fail to do so may find themselves left out of automated selection entirely.

For subscribers, the introduction of Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Search adds a new layer of functionality to Search. These tools are designed to deliver more complete, structured answers and reduce the time spent piecing together information manually. That is likely to appeal to professionals, researchers, and anyone dealing with complex decisions. However, the decision to reserve the most powerful features for paying users raises questions about who gets access to high-quality AI support and who does not. It may also increase pressure on non-paying users to upgrade, particularly if the standard tools begin to feel limited by comparison.

As these capabilities continue to expand, they are likely to influence how people expect digital services to behave. For UK businesses, the priority will be staying visible and responsive within this new model. For users, the benefits will depend on how well the tools perform across a range of everyday tasks, and how widely they are made available.

Co-op’s chief executive has confirmed that Hackers stole the personal data of all 6.5 million Co-op members in an April cyberattack.

The breach exposed names, addresses, and contact details, but no financial data. Co-op says it shut down its systems just in time to block a ransomware attack, though the incident still caused widespread disruption.

CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq called the attack “devastating” and praised IT staff for acting swiftly. The group behind the attack is believed to be ‘Scattered Spider’, a known cybercrime gang that uses social engineering to access internal systems.

Four suspects aged 17 to 20 were arrested and bailed earlier this month in connection with the attacks on Co-op and other UK retailers.

In response, Co-op has partnered with The Hacking Games to help guide young cyber talent into ethical careers, starting with a pilot across its academy schools.

To reduce risk, businesses should train staff to recognise impersonation tactics, restrict internal access, and ensure systems can be swiftly isolated in the event of an attack.

As electric vehicle usage expands, the race is on to recycle their batteries and recover scarce materials like lithium, nickel and cobalt, thereby cutting emissions and easing dependence on mining.

A New Phase In the EV Revolution

With global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) topping 14 million in 2023, a 35 per cent increase on the previous year, attention is now turning to what happens when those vehicles reach the end of their life. The answer lies within a growing industry focused on recycling EV batteries and recovering the valuable metals they contain.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 40 million EVs were on the roads worldwide by the end of 2023. Yet while these vehicles eliminate tailpipe emissions, their batteries pose new sustainability challenges. The raw materials used to make them, especially lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite, are limited, unevenly distributed around the world, and often extracted in environmentally and socially problematic conditions.

This is where EV battery recycling comes in: a critical step not just for sustainability but for securing supply chains, lowering costs, and reducing dependence on virgin mineral extraction.

Why Recycle EV Batteries?

Each lithium-ion EV battery contains a tightly packed structure of anodes and cathodes, typically made from graphite and a mix of lithium, cobalt and nickel. Over time, these batteries degrade and are eventually removed from vehicles. If not properly handled, they risk leaking toxic materials into the environment or catching fire during disposal.

More importantly, without recycling, the valuable critical minerals they contain would be lost. These metals are expensive to mine and refine, and demand is expected to grow rapidly. For example, the World Bank projects that by 2050, global demand for lithium could increase by nearly 500 per cent, with cobalt and nickel not far behind.

Recycling essentially offers a more sustainable and secure alternative. By 2040, up to 50 per cent of the UK’s EV battery material demand could be met through recycling, according to estimates shared by Altilium Clean Technology, a UK-based battery recycling firm. As Dr Christian Marston, Altilium’s COO, puts it: “If we do battery recycling at scale, we can produce materials at around 20% lower cost than commercial imports—and with significantly lower emissions.”

A Circular Model Made in Britain

Altilium is an example of a company at the forefront of this movement. Based in Tavistock, Devon, with new large-scale facilities under development near Plymouth, the company has created a fully integrated recycling process that turns old EV batteries into battery-ready materials.

The heart of its process is EcoCathode™, which is a hydrometallurgical method that uses water-based chemistry instead of high-emission smelting. Here’s a brief summary of how it works:

Step 1 – Shredding

Spent EV batteries are mechanically shredded into a fine, dark powder known as “black mass”. This material contains a mix of critical metals, plastics and other by-products.

Step 2 – Acid Leaching

The black mass is soaked in a sulphuric acid solution. This dissolves the key metals (lithium, nickel, and cobalt) into a liquid form, separating them from inert or less valuable materials.

Step 3 – Graphite Recovery

Before further processing, the graphite from the anode is extracted and purified. Altilium reports a 99 per cent recovery rate for graphite, which is then reused in new anodes.

Step 4 – Metal Separation

Using a series of chemical tweaks, unwanted elements like aluminium and copper are filtered out. The remaining solution contains the valuable metals needed for new batteries.

Step 5 – Solvent Extraction

The lithium, nickel and cobalt are separated out one by one using an advanced chemical process involving kerosene and selective reagents. This allows for high-purity recovery of each element.

Step 6 – Reprocessing for Reuse

Finally, the extracted metals are refined into cathode active materials (CAM) and precursor materials, which can be fed directly back into battery production. This closes the loop by turning waste back into high-value battery inputs. The company claims this method produces 74 per cent less carbon emissions for CAM and 77 per cent less for anode materials compared to traditional sourcing. Their recycled components are already being tested at scale by the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, with a major car manufacturer due to validate performance later this year.

“Closed-Loop” Supply Chain

Altilium’s aim is to create a “closed-loop” supply chain within the UK, keeping resources onshore, reducing dependence on foreign imports, and supporting national energy security. “We see batteries which are in this country as a strategic asset in the UK,” says Marston. “If you do the processing in the UK, you add the value in the UK.”

Who Else Is in the Race?

Although Altilium is leading in the UK, it’s certainly not alone globally. Several firms are now building out battery recycling ecosystems, each with different models and geographic strengths. These include, for example:

– Redwood Materials, founded by Tesla co-creator JB Straubel, is a major US player with sites in Nevada and South Carolina. The company focuses on recovering and refining materials like lithium, cobalt and nickel, and has established partnerships with Toyota, VW, and BMW. Redwood’s strategy is to build a full circular supply chain, reducing US dependence on imported minerals.

– Li-Cycle, based in Canada but operating facilities across North America and Germany, also uses hydrometallurgical recycling. The company reports recovery rates of up to 95% for key materials, and is working closely with US policymakers through funding support from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

– Ecobat, the world’s largest battery recycler, which is pivoting from its traditional lead-acid battery work towards lithium-ion recycling. With a strong global logistics and collection network, Ecobat has been expanding its lithium battery services across Europe and the US. According to its website, the company is focused on achieving “closed-loop recycling rates” for lithium comparable to those already achieved for lead.

How Most EV Battery Recycling Technology Works

Most battery recycling processes follow similar core steps, i.e., collection, dismantling, shredding into black mass, and then separation and refinement of metals.
Older approaches like pyrometallurgy, which uses high temperatures to melt down batteries, are effective but extremely energy intensive and carbon heavy. They also tend to destroy some of the more delicate materials, such as graphite.

Newer techniques like hydrometallurgy, used by Altilium, Li-Cycle, and Redwood, rely on water-based chemical treatments. These enable much more precise separation of metals at lower temperatures, resulting in higher recovery rates and far lower emissions.

Altilium’s process, for example, uses sulphuric acid to soak the black mass, selectively precipitating out low-value metals like iron and copper before extracting more valuable cobalt, nickel and lithium. The graphite is recovered earlier in the process and reprocessed for reuse in new battery anodes. The resulting materials are refined to battery-grade purity and can be used to manufacture brand new battery cells.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

The sustainability case for battery recycling is pretty compelling. For example, according to a 2024 IEA report, recycling critical minerals could cut the need for new mining by up to 40 per cent by 2050. For the automotive industry, that means fewer emissions from extraction, processing, and transport, and less exposure to volatile global commodity markets.

Cost savings are also significant. Altilium estimates that its recycled CAM could be 20 per cent cheaper than virgin equivalents by 2035. This could reduce the overall cost of manufacturing a new EV by 5 per cent, which is quite a meaningful margin in a competitive industry where affordability remains a barrier to adoption.

Also, the environmental gains go far beyond carbon. For example, avoiding new mining means less disruption to ecosystems, fewer human rights violations, and a reduced geopolitical dependency on regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo (which currently supplies two-thirds of the world’s cobalt) or Indonesia (the top source of nickel).

Not Without Its Challenges

Despite the promise, the battery recycling industry is obviously still in its early industrial phase. As Dr Xiaochu Wei of Imperial College London points out, many firms have only recently begun scaling beyond pilot stages. Altilium’s own journey, from a modest lab in 2022 to a full-scale facility in 2025, illustrates both the speed and complexity involved.
Battery designs themselves are also a barrier. With so many chemistries in use, from lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) to nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC), recycling methods must be flexible enough to handle mixed inputs. Standardising designs or redesigning batteries to be easier to dismantle could help but will require coordination across manufacturers.

Greenwashing Risk

It should be noted here that there’s also the risk of greenwashing. For example, as competition intensifies, some firms may make sustainability claims that outpace their actual recovery rates or environmental impact. Regulation can help: the EU’s new Battery Regulation, due to phase in from 2025, will require specific thresholds for material recovery and recycled content in new batteries.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

Recycling EV batteries at scale is starting to look not just possible but inevitable. With regulations tightening, supply chains under pressure, and emissions targets looming, the case for a circular battery economy is becoming hard to ignore. Companies like Altilium are showing that high recovery rates and lower-carbon processes can be achieved using homegrown innovation. If they succeed in scaling up production and maintaining performance, the UK could have a credible, strategic alternative to importing expensive critical minerals from volatile markets.

For UK businesses, particularly in the automotive and clean tech sectors, this opens the door to a more resilient supply chain with greater control over cost and compliance. Manufacturers looking to meet EU recycled content rules from 2025 onwards will need trusted partners, and local recyclers could offer both regulatory support and operational savings. There are also commercial advantages to be gained from marketing genuinely low-carbon products built with verified recycled inputs, which will only become more valuable as sustainability reporting requirements evolve.

The wider benefits stretch further still. Reducing the UK’s reliance on overseas mining reduces exposure to supply disruptions, ethical concerns and carbon-heavy logistics. It also supports the domestic energy transition with onshore capabilities that align with national goals on net zero and industrial growth. For stakeholders across the board, from EV manufacturers and policymakers to investors and consumers, the expansion of battery recycling signals a maturing ecosystem with real potential to deliver on sustainability promises, rather than just headline targets.

None of this, though, will be straightforward. The sector still faces infrastructure gaps, chemistry complexity and the challenge of building scale fast enough to match the rise in end-of-life EVs. However, if early leaders can maintain momentum, the next few years may see battery recycling move from pilot to pillar, a new industrial sector supporting cleaner transport, better economics and lower environmental impact all at once.

If you’d like to know how quickly your website downloads and how it renders for people and other technical information which can help your SEO, this video explains how to access a handy tool which is completely free to use.

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Want to trust what you see? WhatsApp now lets you check the origin of an image by searching it on Google without ever leaving the app.

How to:

– Tap the image in chat.
– Tap the ⋯ menu and select ‘Search on web’ (or ‘Search image with Google’).
– The image is sent (with consent) to Google and results open in your browser.

What it’s for:

Helps prevent sharing misleading or manipulated images — perfect for vetting news, verifying content, and avoiding misinformation in work or group discussions.

Pro‑Tip: Use this on images sent in group chats or forwards before trusting or sharing them further.