Pornhub announced on Tuesday it will block new users in the United Kingdom, citing the country’s age-verification laws as ineffective. The move follows the Online Safety Act’s new provisions, which went into effect last July, requiring adults to submit face scans, ID uploads, credit-card checks, and more to confirm they are not minors.
At a Glance
- Pornhub will restrict UK access to registered users only.
- Traffic from UK users fell 77 percent after the Act.
- The company claims many porn sites have not complied with the new laws.
- Why it matters: The decision highlights tensions between online safety regulation and adult-content providers.
The UK Age-Verification Crackdown
The Online Safety Act, which took effect on February 2, 2025, introduced a rigorous verification process for adult-content sites. Users must now provide:
- A face scan for age estimation
- An official ID document
- A credit-card check
These steps aim to prevent minors from accessing pornographic material. However, Pornhub reports that the system has led to a 77 percent drop in UK traffic. The company argues that the law is flawed because:
- Most adult sites have not complied with the new requirements.
- The verification process is cumbersome and discourages legitimate users.
- The Act does not address non-adult platforms that host pornographic content.
## Pornhub’s Response
During a presentation on Tuesday, Pornhub’s vice president of brand and community, Alex Kekesi, said:
“We believe we can no longer participate in the flawed system that is in the UK as a result of the Online Safety Act,” he said.
Kekesi added that the site will remain available for existing, verified users, but new registrations will be blocked. He warned that “thousands of irresponsible porn sites will still be easy to access,” implying that the Act’s reach is limited.
The company also highlighted a demonstration by Solomon Friedman, vice president of compliance for Ethical Partners Capital (ECP), the private-equity firm that owns Aylo, Pornhub’s parent company. Friedman showed that six of the ten Google search results for “free porn” in the UK do not comply with age-verification laws.
> “ECP does not wish for one single minor to be able to access adult content, not just on Aylos’ platforms, but on any adult platforms,” Friedman said. “Even those regulators acting in good faith, like the United Kingdom, simply have no hope of meeting their stated goal and our stated goal of keeping kids safe online.”
Industry and Regulatory Perspectives
The debate extends beyond the UK. In the United States, 25 states have implemented age-verification laws, and Pornhub has withdrawn from most of them. Nonetheless, the U.S. remains the site’s top traffic source, and users can bypass age checks with a VPN.
Friedman argued that tech giants must adopt device-based age verification. He noted that:
- Microsoft has suggested a policy proposal applying age verification at the service level.
- Apple released a child-online-safety report, stating that web content filters are on by default for users under 18.
- Google spokesperson Karl Ryan said adult-entertainment apps are not available in its app store and that companies like Aylo need to invest in tools to meet legal obligations.
The presentation also touched on broader concerns about non-consensual sexual imagery on platforms like X, where state attorneys general are investigating the use of AI chatbots such as Grok. Friedman remarked that Google Images contains “thumbnails of every single porn image cached available online,” and that device-based verification could filter explicit content on social media.
Global Context and Future Implications
Pornhub’s decision underscores a growing global push for stricter online safety measures. While the UK’s Online Safety Act aims to protect minors, the company’s stance suggests that without comprehensive compliance across all platforms, the law’s effectiveness is limited.
Key points emerging from the debate:
| Issue | Current Status | Potential Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Age verification compliance | Many sites non-compliant | Limits law’s reach |
| Device-based verification | Proposed by tech giants | Could enforce stricter controls |
| VPN circumvention | Effective in the U.S. | Undermines age checks |
The conversation is likely to continue as regulators seek new tools and as companies grapple with balancing user privacy, legal compliance, and business interests.
Key Takeaways
- Pornhub will block new UK users after a 77 percent traffic drop post-Online Safety Act.
- The company criticizes the law’s lack of enforcement and its exclusion of non-adult platforms.
- Tech giants are being urged to adopt device-based age verification to strengthen online safety.
- The U.S. remains a major traffic source, with VPNs circumventing age checks.
- The debate highlights the challenges of enforcing age verification across diverse online ecosystems.
