Pornhub is shutting down access due to a new law in the UK
Pornhub is set to close its doors to the majority of UK visitors, with new restrictions scheduled to take effect next week amid the ongoing repercussions of stricter age verification regulations.
Beginning February 2, access to the site in the UK will be restricted to users who already possess a Pornhub account. New visitors will face complete restrictions. The decision follows several months of strained relations between the platform and regulatory bodies regarding the implementation of the Online Safety Act.
Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, asserts that the law has failed to achieve its intended objectives. The company states that more stringent age verification measures have not prevented children from accessing adult content online; rather, they have driven users to less regulated and more hazardous websites. Aylo has previously noted that UK traffic to Pornhub saw a significant decline of 77 percent following the implementation of age verification rules last summer.
Ofcom, the media regulator in the UK, holds a different view. The regulator asserts that the new checks are functioning as intended by decreasing the likelihood of children encountering explicit material. An Ofcom spokesperson stated that porn platforms are required to either implement age assurance systems that comply with regulations or limit access within the UK.
Alex Kekesi, Aylo’s head of community and brand, characterized the decision as a challenging one. She stated that legally operated platforms are being pushed out, while unregulated sites continue to be easily accessible. She stated that the company initially collaborated with the law in the hope that it would be enforced effectively, but now feels that the legislation has not succeeded in safeguarding minors.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology refuted that assertion, clarifying that the law does not restrict adults from accessing legal content and that services can remain in the UK as long as they effectively block underage users.
Pornhub continues to be the most frequented adult site in the UK, as reported by Similarweb, and the same access restrictions will extend to other platforms owned by Aylo, such as YouPorn and Redtube.
The ongoing debate raises important questions about the effectiveness of age checks, device-level controls, or a combination of safeguards in preventing children from accessing adult content online.
