Pornhub will limit UK access due to age verification requirements

Pornhub has announced it will restrict access to its website in the UK starting 2 February, allowing only users with existing accounts to view content. The decision comes after the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) introduced stricter age verification for adult sites, which Pornhub claims has failed to prevent minors from accessing content and has caused traffic to fall by 77%. Aylo, Pornhub’s parent company, stated that while the site complied initially, the law diverted users to less regulated platforms. Ofcom, the UK regulator, maintains that age checks are effective in preventing children from stumbling across inappropriate material. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology emphasized that the OSA requires adult sites to implement robust age assurance but does not prevent adults from accessing legal content. Experts suggest that device-level controls could improve age verification, though Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) still allow users to bypass restrictions. Aylo’s restrictions will also affect other platforms it owns, including YouPorn and Redtube. The discussion highlights ongoing tensions between legal enforcement of age verification, the efficacy of regulations, and the adaptability of users seeking adult content online.