Pornhub Joins Eu'S Ambitious Plan For Digital Age Verification

Pornhub Steps Up to Shape EU's Digital Age Verification Initiative

In a move that's turning heads, Pornhub has announced its collaboration with the European Union to build an age-verification system designed to keep minors away from adult content. According to the Luxembourg Times, Pornhub confirmed their partnership with EU officials, signaling a proactive approach toward responsible content access.

The European Commission laid the groundwork for this initiative back in October, urging adult websites to take part in testing a new system. This innovative process leverages passports and national ID cards to verify users' ages, assuring them that their privacy will remain intact. The system promises not to disclose unnecessary personal information, ensuring users' anonymity beyond age verification.

Standing with the Commission

Pornhub, owned by Luxembourg-based Aylo, has accepted the challenge and is actively participating in the system's technical testing phase. A spokesperson for Pornhub emphasized the company's commitment in an emailed statement, stating: "We have always supported effective age assurance and we continually attempt to work with lawmakers and regulators to ensure a successful outcome."

“The app and upcoming EU wallet are consistent with our support for a single instance of verification per given device.”

Yet, despite their efforts, EU Commission spokespersons have not yet confirmed Pornhub's involvement directly. Meanwhile, Aylo has also called on tech giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft to incorporate age-restriction tools at the device level, reducing the burden on websites for identity checks.

Widespread Impact and Future Prospects

Pornhub's move comes amidst tightening regulations across Europe and the U.S., pushing for stricter age checks for accessing sensitive content. This shift is partly responsible for a dramatic drop in Pornhub's traffic, particularly in areas like the UK and Louisiana, where age verification laws have slashed visits by 80%.

In the broader context, the EU is not just focusing on adult content. Lawmakers are pushing for a 16-year minimum age for accessing social media and other online platforms, with some flexibility for parental consent. This aligns with the dawn of digital identity wallets being tested in countries like Denmark and France, which are set to redefine how Europeans will verify their age and identity online.

As digital identity systems roll out, Luxembourg is expected to join the Wero network for digital payments by mid-2026, showing the EU's commitment to a comprehensive digital transformation.