Ofcom, the UK's media regulator, fined a porn site £800,000 for failing to implement proper age verification measures, while Prince Harry expressed support for bereaved families challenging social media companies in court. In other news, a game developer laid off staff shortly after its game's release, Tesco announced plans to offer Clubcard access to under-18s, and travel bookings surged due to the rainy January weather.
Kick Online Entertainment SA, the porn site, was penalized for not having "highly effective" methods to verify that UK visitors were over 18, according to Ofcom. The regulator stated that the company had since introduced age checks, but was not compliant with the law between July and December 2025. Suzanne Cater, director of enforcement at Ofcom, emphasized that it was "non-negotiable" for adult sites to have robust age verification.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry addressed bereaved families who are taking legal action against major tech companies, including Instagram and YouTube. He thanked them for "telling your stories over and over again" during a trial in California. The families allege that the platforms are designed to be addictive. Lawyers for YouTube and Meta, which owns Instagram, reject these claims. Prince Harry expressed hope for "truth, justice and accountability" in the case.
In the gaming industry, Wildlight Entertainment, the developer of the multiplayer shooter "Highguard," laid off staff just two weeks after the game's release. The game, which was featured at The Game Awards, struggled to retain players after its January launch. The development team included veterans from successful titles such as Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and Titanfall.
Tesco announced plans to extend Clubcard access to under-18s this year. The supermarket did not specify the reasons for this decision or provide details on how it would work. This move follows campaigning from Which?, which urged supermarkets to remove restrictions on loyalty scheme access.
Finally, the Advantage Travel Partnerships reported a 9% increase in February half-term holiday bookings compared to last year, attributing the rise to the gloomy weather and the political environment, which created a "powerful psychological need for escape." Manchester Airport is expecting almost 50,000 passengers on Friday, its busiest February half-term on record. Travellers heading to Europe are warned of potential security delays due to the ongoing rollout of the European Entry Exit System.
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