Pornhub to Restrict New UK Users Amid Age Verification Dispute
Published 27 January 2026
Highlights
- Pornhub will restrict access to new UK users from 2 February due to the Online Safety Act's age verification requirements.
- Aylo, Pornhub's parent company, reported a 77% drop in UK traffic since the age checks were enforced last summer.
- Ofcom maintains that the age checks are effective in protecting minors, while Aylo argues they divert traffic to unregulated sites.
- VPN usage in the UK has surged, doubling after the introduction of age checks, indicating users are circumventing restrictions.
- Aylo criticizes the Online Safety Act, claiming it compromises privacy and fails to effectively enforce age verification.
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Rewritten Article
Headline: Pornhub to Restrict New UK Users Amid Age Verification Dispute
From 2 February, Pornhub will restrict access to new users in the UK, citing the impact of mandatory age verification checks introduced under the Online Safety Act (OSA). This decision, announced by Aylo, Pornhub's parent company, highlights ongoing tensions between the platform and UK regulators over the effectiveness of these measures.
Impact of Age Verification
The OSA, which came into effect last summer, mandates explicit content providers to implement robust age verification to prevent minors from accessing adult material. Aylo reported a significant 77% decline in UK traffic since these checks were enforced, arguing that the law has inadvertently driven users to unregulated sites. Alex Kekesi, Aylo's head of community and brand, stated, "Our sites, which host legal and regulated porn, will no longer be available in the UK to new users, but thousands of irresponsible porn sites will still be easy to access."
Regulatory Perspective
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, insists that the age checks are achieving their intended purpose. An Ofcom spokesperson emphasized, "Porn services have a choice between using age checks to protect users as required under the Act, or to block access to their sites in the UK." The regulator continues to engage with Aylo to understand their decision and explore potential solutions.
Privacy and Circumvention Concerns
Aylo has expressed concerns about privacy and the effectiveness of the OSA. Kekesi noted that the framework has jeopardized the privacy of UK citizens and that circumvention through VPNs has become rampant. VPN usage in the UK surged from 650,000 to over 1.4 million users following the introduction of age checks, indicating a significant number of users are bypassing restrictions.
Future Implications
The debate over the OSA's effectiveness continues, with Aylo asserting that the law fails to protect minors while compromising user privacy. Solomon Friedman of Ethical Capital Partners, which owns Aylo, remarked, "The problem here is not the regulator - it is the law." As the situation evolves, the industry and regulators must navigate the balance between protecting minors and ensuring user privacy.
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Scenario Analysis
The ongoing dispute between Aylo and UK regulators over the Online Safety Act's age verification requirements could lead to further legal and regulatory challenges. If Aylo's concerns about privacy and circumvention gain traction, it may prompt a reevaluation of the OSA's framework. Additionally, the rise in VPN usage suggests that users are actively seeking ways to bypass restrictions, which could lead to increased scrutiny of VPN services. As the debate continues, stakeholders may need to explore more effective solutions that balance child protection with privacy rights.
From 2 February, Pornhub will restrict access to new users in the UK, citing the impact of mandatory age verification checks introduced under the Online Safety Act (OSA). This decision, announced by Aylo, Pornhub's parent company, highlights ongoing tensions between the platform and UK regulators over the effectiveness of these measures.
Impact of Age Verification
The OSA, which came into effect last summer, mandates explicit content providers to implement robust age verification to prevent minors from accessing adult material. Aylo reported a significant 77% decline in UK traffic since these checks were enforced, arguing that the law has inadvertently driven users to unregulated sites. Alex Kekesi, Aylo's head of community and brand, stated, "Our sites, which host legal and regulated porn, will no longer be available in the UK to new users, but thousands of irresponsible porn sites will still be easy to access."
Regulatory Perspective
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, insists that the age checks are achieving their intended purpose. An Ofcom spokesperson emphasized, "Porn services have a choice between using age checks to protect users as required under the Act, or to block access to their sites in the UK." The regulator continues to engage with Aylo to understand their decision and explore potential solutions.
Privacy and Circumvention Concerns
Aylo has expressed concerns about privacy and the effectiveness of the OSA. Kekesi noted that the framework has jeopardized the privacy of UK citizens and that circumvention through VPNs has become rampant. VPN usage in the UK surged from 650,000 to over 1.4 million users following the introduction of age checks, indicating a significant number of users are bypassing restrictions.
Future Implications
The debate over the OSA's effectiveness continues, with Aylo asserting that the law fails to protect minors while compromising user privacy. Solomon Friedman of Ethical Capital Partners, which owns Aylo, remarked, "The problem here is not the regulator - it is the law." As the situation evolves, the industry and regulators must navigate the balance between protecting minors and ensuring user privacy.
What this might mean
The ongoing dispute between Aylo and UK regulators over the Online Safety Act's age verification requirements could lead to further legal and regulatory challenges. If Aylo's concerns about privacy and circumvention gain traction, it may prompt a reevaluation of the OSA's framework. Additionally, the rise in VPN usage suggests that users are actively seeking ways to bypass restrictions, which could lead to increased scrutiny of VPN services. As the debate continues, stakeholders may need to explore more effective solutions that balance child protection with privacy rights.
