Businesses in Omagh and across the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area that operate online services should take note of new joint guidance issued by Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
The guidance is designed to help organisations understand their responsibilities around age assurance, particularly where their services may be accessed by children.
Why this matters locally
Many businesses in Omagh now operate online in some form. Whether it’s e-commerce, booking systems, digital content, or apps, the expectations around keeping children safe online are increasing.
This guidance reinforces that age restrictions cannot simply be stated — they must be actively enforced.
For local businesses, especially startups, digital services, and growing SMEs, this is not just a compliance issue. It is about building trust and protecting users.
What the guidance says
The joint statement outlines several key expectations:
- If your service has a minimum age requirement, you must take real steps to enforce it
- Any age assurance measures must be effective, proportionate, and compliant with data protection law
- Businesses should only apply age checks where necessary, based on the risk level of their service
This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it requires businesses to assess their own risk and respond appropriately.
Practical impact for Omagh businesses
For many local businesses, this may raise important questions:
- Do you know who is accessing your online services?
- Are your current age checks robust enough?
- Are you balancing safety with data protection correctly?
If your business operates in areas such as social media, online communities, gaming, or video content, the expectations will be higher.
Even smaller businesses need to be aware that regulators are increasingly focused on how organisations manage children’s access and data responsibly.
A joined-up regulatory approach
The guidance reflects closer collaboration between Ofcom and the ICO, bringing together requirements under the Online Safety Act and UK data protection law.
It also builds on recent pressure from the ICO on major platforms to strengthen their age assurance systems, signalling a wider shift that will affect businesses of all sizes.
What you should do next
Omagh businesses should take this as an opportunity to:
- Review their online services and identify any child access risks
- Check whether existing age verification methods are fit for purpose
- Ensure processes align with both safety and data protection requirements
Taking action now can help avoid future issues while strengthening your business’s reputation.
Read the full joint statement on age assurance from Ofcom and ICO.
Supporting resources
Online services that need to demonstrate compliance can consider using accredited data protection certification schemes, such as:
For more information, read ICO’s guidance on age assurance
