Government to Consider Mandatory ID Verification for Access to Pornographic Websites — Sam George
Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George says proposed policy aims to protect children from exposure to explicit online content.
- Government considers mandatory ID verification for access to pornographic websites
- Policy aims to protect children from exposure to explicit online content.
- Proposal is under development for Cabinet consideration
The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has revealed that government is developing a policy proposal that would require individuals to verify their identity before accessing pornographic websites in Ghana.
Speaking at the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values, the Ningo-Prampram MP said the initiative is intended to prevent children from being exposed to explicit content online.
According to him, the proposal is being prepared for Cabinet consideration and could require users to present either a national ID card or a driver’s licence before gaining access to adult websites.
“We’re working on going to Cabinet on that to make sure that before you access any X-rated site, you must put either your driver’s licence or your national ID card so that we know who is going to that site and to prevent children from being exposed,” he said.
Mr George referenced similar measures in the United Kingdom, where age verification systems are used to restrict minors from accessing pornographic content.
“Today in the United Kingdom, for you to access a pornographic website, you need to put your driver’s licence for them to be able to determine that you are 18 years,” he added.
He argued that early exposure to pornography can negatively affect children’s development, values, and behaviour.
