Pornhub to implement government-approved age verification methods in the UK

Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, has announced that it will introduce ‘government-approved’ age verification methods on its adult sites in the UK, including Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube. The announcement comes in response to new regulations under the UK’s Online Safety Act, which requires pornographic websites to implement more robust age checks to prevent underage access. These changes must be implemented by July 25. The UK regulator Ofcom has emphasized that the current system, where users only need to click a button to access content, is inadequate. While Aylo has not specified the exact methods it will use for age verification, the company has expressed a willingness to cooperate with Ofcom’s approach, which includes photo ID checks and credit card verifications. Aylo’s vice president, Alex Kekesi, praised Ofcom for its flexible and thoughtful approach to the challenge, stating that the UK model offers the most meaningful protection seen so far. Despite resistance to similar age verification measures in other countries, including a suspension of its site in France, Aylo is moving forward with these changes in the UK. The move is part of a broader global effort to address concerns about child safety online, with regulators in various countries investigating adult websites for their failure to prevent minors from accessing explicit content.