Pornhub Age Check Probe
UK Watchdog Investigates Pornhub Owner Over Apple-Based Age Verification Checks
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Key Points
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Aylo blocked new U.K. users from accessing Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube in February, then partially restored access in May for new users who had passed age checks; the restored access applied to people using Apple iPhones and iPads running the company’s latest operating system.
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Aylo told roughly 300 members of Parliament that the Online Safety Act had “failed” to protect children because non-compliant adult sites were appearing prominently in search results and attracting users who could access them without age checks.
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Aylo reported that traffic to Pornhub from the U.K. had fallen by 77% after the Online Safety Act’s age-check requirements took effect, although the figures did not include users accessing the site through virtual private networks.
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Ofcom’s enforcement director, George Lusty, said: “We expect tech firms to ensure age checks are highly effective before introducing them. Anything less could leave children at risk.”
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Aylo argued that only device-based age checks conducted by companies such as Apple and Google would create a level playing field, after Pornhub blocked unregistered U.K. users and said visitors were moving en masse to sites that did not comply with the law.
Britain's communications regulator Ofcom is investigating Aylo, the Montreal-based owner of Pornhub, over whether its age-verification system actually stops children from accessing pornography. CTV News reports the probe focuses on a new age-check process that relies on Apple device signals. Ofcom questions if Aylo tested the system thoroughly before rolling it out.
The investigation follows the U.K.'s Online Safety Act, which requires adult sites to use highly effective age checks. The Record notes that fines can reach £18 million or 10% of worldwide annual revenue, whichever is larger. Aylo argues the rules pushed users toward unregulated websites instead of protecting children.
How Pornhub's Age Checks Work Now
Aylo blocked all new U.K. users from Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube in February 2024. Montreal Gazette reports the company then partially restored access in May for users who passed age checks on Apple devices. The new system only works for people using iPhones and iPads with the latest operating system.
Ofcom's enforcement director George Lusty stated: "We expect tech firms to ensure age checks are highly effective before introducing them. Anything less could leave children at risk." The Record reports Ofcom wants to know why Aylo deployed the system without sufficient testing and due diligence first.
Traffic Collapsed After New Rules Took Hold
Pornhub's U.K. traffic dropped 77% after age-check rules went into effect, Toronto Sun reports. The figures do not include users accessing the site through virtual private networks. Aylo argues the steep decline shows the Online Safety Act failed to protect children because unregulated adult sites now attract users without any checks.
Aylo's Push for Device-Based Verification
Aylo told roughly 300 members of Parliament that device-based age checks from companies like Apple and Google would level the playing field. CTV News reports the company says non-compliant adult sites appear high in search results and attract users who bypass age checks entirely. Aylo claims regulated sites face unfair disadvantage.
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