Pornhub Locks Out New Uk Users Amid Age Verification Clash

Pornhub Pulls the Plug on New UK Users

Pornhub is set to impose restrictions on UK access starting February 2, as tougher age verification laws come into effect. The adult site, under the umbrella of parent company Aylo, says only users with existing accounts will have continued access. This move is a direct response to what Pornhub describes as the "failure" of the Online Safety Act (OSA) to protect minors effectively.

The recent changes have led Pornhub to describe the OSA’s requirements as ineffective. In a statement, Aylo’s community and brand head, Alex Kekesi, emphasized that their decision to restrict access was not taken lightly. "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," she explained, hinting at the broader challenges in regulating online adult content.

"Those attempting to access Pornhub in the UK after 2 February will effectively be met with 'a wall' instead of site content," Kekesi said during a press conference.

Industry Impacts and Regulatory Challenges

According to Aylo, the regulatory environment since the introduction of the new age checks has not yielded the desired effect, with site traffic dropping by 77%. Despite these setbacks, Pornhub remains the UK’s largest platform for adult content, as confirmed by Similarweb. The regulator, Ofcom, has maintained that the stricter age checks are essential in preventing minors from accessing inappropriate material.

Solomon Friedman of Ethical Capital Partners, the entity owning Aylo, expressed that while Ofcom is diligently enforcing the age check laws, the issue lies with the legislation itself. "You have a dedicated regulator working in good faith, but unfortunately, the law they are operating under cannot possibly succeed," Friedman noted. He advocates for device manufacturers like Apple, Google, and Microsoft to step in with technical measures to protect minors at the device level.

Future of Adult Content in the UK

The upcoming restrictions are not just limited to Pornhub but will also apply to other Aylo-owned sites, including YouPorn and Redtube. UK visitors to Pornhub are currently prompted to verify their age to access content, a measure that seems insufficient to the company as they prepare to erect more definitive barriers.

This decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing conversation about online safety and the protection of minors, as industry leaders and regulators navigate the complexities of digital content and age verification.