Major Pornography Provider Cuts Access for New UK Users Amid Age Checks

New users in the United Kingdom will find themselves unable to access the pornography websites operated by Aylo, including Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube, starting Monday. The company announced this decision, citing new age verification requirements that it claims have compromised online safety. Existing users who have already verified their age will maintain access, as confirmed in a statement released last week.

The UK government mandated age verification on pornography websites in July 2025 as part of the Online Safety Act. This legislation aims to prevent minors from encountering explicit content online. According to the UK’s Office of Communications (Ofcom), the top ten most visited pornography platforms in the UK have complied with these regulations since their introduction. However, Pornhub reported a staggering 77% drop in site traffic since the laws were implemented. Although the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) surged initially, allowing users to bypass restrictions, this trend has since plateaued.

While Ofcom and advocates for online safety have described the new laws as a preliminary success, Aylo’s leadership argues that their implementation has made the internet more hazardous for both minors and adults. The company claims that the age verification framework “in practice has diverted traffic to darker, unregulated corners of the internet,” where users may encounter dangerous or illegal content.

Experts, however, offer a more cautious perspective on the situation. Iain Corby from the Age Verification Providers Association stated that it is too early to definitively assess whether the new laws have effectively altered children’s access to pornography. Specific data will not be available until Ofcom releases its annual Children’s Media Use and Attitudes survey later in the spring. Corby referenced a study conducted by Internet Matters in December, which indicated that children were using VPNs at rates consistent with those prior to the changes, suggesting an early success.

The decline in traffic to Pornhub over the past six months indicates that the laws may be succeeding in reducing accidental exposure to explicit content among minors. Ian Henderson, founder and chief executive of the UK charity Naked Truth Project, pointed to research by the UK Children’s Commissioner, which revealed that 27% of respondents had encountered pornography online by age 11, and 59% had viewed it unintentionally. Henderson noted that many individuals seeking assistance from his charity reported first encountering pornography by accident.

While the UK’s age verification laws may be effective in preventing children from easily accessing pornographic content, some studies suggest that they may inadvertently expose adults to more harmful material. A survey conducted by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a UK nonprofit focused on pornography addiction, revealed that 45% of respondents had visited non-compliant sites to avoid disclosing their personal information. Of those surveyed, 39% reported watching content that made them uncomfortable on these sites.

A spokesperson for the Lucy Faithfull Foundation expressed support for the Online Safety Act, urging individuals to remain aware of the content they consume. Corby emphasized the need for Ofcom to ensure compliance across all pornographic websites accessible from the UK, advocating for comprehensive enforcement to level the playing field. He noted that the increased availability of age verification technology has made compliance more feasible for adult sites.

Clare McGlynn, a law professor at Durham University, expressed skepticism regarding Aylo’s motivations, suggesting that the decision reflects a calculated public relations strategy aimed at challenging existing legislation. She argued that the move is designed to galvanize public opinion against restrictions on pornography and age verification.

Henderson echoed this sentiment, differentiating between compliance and genuine concern for user safety. He remarked, “They’re a profit-making company. Any platform would prefer to have registered users that they have control over the data of than just anonymous users.”

An Ofcom spokesperson confirmed that the UK has seen significant adoption of age verification since the laws were enacted. The agency has launched investigations into over 80 pornographic sites and imposed a £1 million fine on a non-compliant provider, with further actions expected. Ofcom stated it will continue discussions with Aylo to understand the reasons behind the company’s recent decision.

Aylo’s move marks a departure from its previous cooperation with UK regulators, although experts note that similar actions have been taken in various jurisdictions. McGlynn highlighted that Aylo has also restricted access in numerous US states with comparable age verification laws. She suggested that these actions are aimed at inciting debate and reversing legislative trends surrounding age assurance.

Globally, the trend of implementing age verification is gaining traction. The European Commission has developed an Age Verification Blueprint to assist online platforms within member states in establishing user-friendly and privacy-preserving verification methods. Canada is revisiting legislation aimed at limiting young people’s access to pornographic content following a stalled attempt in 2023. In Australia, strict age verification measures are set to take effect from March 9, 2024, as part of an ongoing effort to safeguard young internet users, which began with a social media ban for individuals under 16 in December.

A spokesperson from Australia’s Office of the eSafety Commission indicated that Aylo actively participated in drafting its age verification laws and that the agency will closely monitor compliance with these regulations.

In its statement, Aylo expressed commitment to collaborating with UK, European, and international partners to ensure that the lessons learned in the UK will inform future policymaking.