Pornhub to restrict access for UK users from February

Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, has maintained that the enhanced age checks are fulfilling their intended purpose by preventing children from encountering inappropriate material online. A spokesperson for Ofcom stated that adult content providers have a clear choice: either implement the mandated age verification systems to protect users, as required by the Act, or opt to block access to their sites within the UK. The regulator has indicated its intention to continue discussions with Aylo to gain a comprehensive understanding of this shift in their operational stance.

Alex Kekesi, Head of Community and Brand at Aylo, described the decision to limit Pornhub’s accessibility in the UK as a "difficult decision." She elaborated that their platforms, which host legal and regulated adult content, will cease to be available to new users in the UK. This move, she contended, will still leave thousands of unregulated and potentially harmful pornography sites easily accessible to those seeking them. Kekesi explained that Aylo initially endeavoured to comply with the OSA obligations, driven by a belief that a dedicated and prepared regulator like Ofcom could effectively translate challenging legislation into meaningful compliance.

However, after six months of observing the implementation of the age verification requirements, Kekesi stated that the company’s experience strongly suggests that the OSA has fallen short of its stated goal of protecting children. In response, a spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology reiterated the government’s stance, emphasizing that the Online Safety Act clearly mandates that online pornographic services must prevent children from accessing such material through robust age assurance mechanisms. The department clarified that the Act does not prohibit adults from viewing legal content and that services are not required to leave the UK; they simply need to ensure that individuals under 18 cannot access their sites. The spokesperson further noted that a variety of methods are available for implementing such age verification.

According to web analytics firm Similarweb, Pornhub remains the largest pornography platform in the UK. Kekesi confirmed that individuals attempting to access Pornhub in the UK after February 2nd will encounter a "wall" rather than the site’s usual content. These same restrictions will also be applied to other adult websites owned by Aylo, including YouPorn and Redtube.

The discussion around the effectiveness of these measures continues, with Solomon Friedman of Ethical Capital Partners (ECP), the owner of Aylo, acknowledging that Ofcom is "working in good faith" to enforce the age verification requirements. However, Friedman pointed to the law itself as the fundamental issue, stating, "The problem here, however, is not the regulator – it is the law. You have a dedicated regulator working in good faith, but unfortunately, the law they are operating under cannot possibly succeed." He highlighted that six months into the enforcement of these rules, individuals can still readily access pornography through various online searches.

Emma Drake, a partner specializing in online safety and privacy at the law firm Bird and Bird, offered a counterpoint, noting that research cited by Aylo, which suggested adults were seeking riskier porn sites, also indicated a general decline in adult pornography consumption. Drake argued that this trend likely extends to children as well. While acknowledging that determined individuals will find alternative routes, such as using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or newly emerging platforms, she stressed that introducing barriers to the most well-known sites can still effectively protect a significant number of children who may not exert such effort.

Aylo has consistently advocated that device manufacturers, including major players like Apple, Google, and Microsoft, are best positioned to implement technical safeguards that prevent children from accessing pornography. Friedman asserted that such device-level controls are "efficient, effective, and privacy-preserving." Ofcom’s spokesperson concurred that there are no obstacles preventing tech firms from developing device-level age assurance methods and encouraged the industry to pursue such solutions if they can be proven highly effective. However, Ofcom maintained that its role is to enforce the existing regulations. The spokesperson added that the age assurance rules put in place are flexible and proportionate, and widespread adoption has been observed.

Cybersecurity expert Dr. Chelsea Jarvie cautioned that while device-level controls are likely to play a role in age assurance, they are "not a silver bullet." She explained that VPNs continue to offer workarounds, underscoring the necessity of layered controls for protecting children online, rather than relying on any single measure. VPNs enable users to disguise their online location, effectively appearing to be in a different country. Downloads of VPN apps in the UK saw a substantial increase following the implementation of age verification requirements on July 25th. In a recent development, peers in the House of Lords voted to pass an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which aims to "prohibit the provision" of VPNs to children. Additional reporting for this article was provided by Laura Cress and Chris Vallance.