Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has initiated an investigation into Aylo, the owner of Pornhub, concerning the effectiveness of the site’s new age verification checks aimed at preventing children from accessing adult content.
According to Ofcom, in May, Pornhub began implementing a new age verification system that relies on a third-party service, Apple. The regulator expressed concerns that Aylo may not have conducted adequate diligence or testing before rolling out this process, suggesting that it “may not be highly effective” in safeguarding minors from pornography.
In a detailed statement provided to the BBC, Aylo robustly defended its age verification system, emphasizing its commitment to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Under the provisions of the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA), adult sites are required to implement highly effective age assurance measures to verify users are over 18. However, the Act allows service providers to choose the methods they will employ for age checking.
As part of its inquiry, Ofcom plans to examine how Aylo executes its age verification processes and whether it undertook the necessary due diligence prior to implementation. Notably, the investigation will not extend to how Apple conducts its age checks.
George Lusty, Ofcom’s Director of Enforcement, stated, “Online age checks are a vital protection to prevent children from encountering inappropriate or harmful material, including pornography.” He added, “We expect tech firms to ensure age checks are highly effective before introducing them. Anything less could leave children at risk.”
Aylo contends that its experience across various markets with different age-check methods has proven that Apple’s system offers significantly stronger protection than other methods currently available in the UK. The company also pointed out that Ofcom had previously acknowledged Apple’s technology as “a real win for children and families.”
Additionally, Aylo warned that a system requiring individual pornographic sites to verify users’ ages could push them towards less compliant and potentially dangerous websites.
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation has indicated that non-compliant sites are more likely to host harmful or illegal content, including sexual imagery involving children.
However, Iain Corby, executive director of the Age Verification Providers Association, voiced skepticism about a mobile device-based age verification system claiming it could guarantee that children are adequately blocked from accessing adult content.
Under the OSA, Ofcom has the authority to impose fines of up to £18 million or 10% of a company’s annual global revenue, depending on which amount is greater, for non-compliance.
This investigation marks the latest conflict between Ofcom and one of the world’s most visited pornographic websites. In October 2025, Pornhub reported a dramatic 75% drop in traffic from the UK following the implementation of stricter age verification measures mandated by the OSA. There are suggestions that users might be turning to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to circumvent these checks.
In January, Pornhub announced it would limit access to its site in the UK, permitting access only to users who had previously registered an account, attributing the change to more stringent checks. Aylo has criticized the recent updates to the act, suggesting they have failed to protect minors effectively.
Nevertheless, in May, Aylo revealed that it would begin allowing some UK Apple users who have verified their age using the latest iOS version to access the site again.
Editor’s Take
This investigation underscores growing concerns about online safety measures aimed at protecting minors from inappropriate content. As regulations tighten, businesses like Aylo must navigate the challenges of compliance while ensuring effective user verification. The outcome could set important precedents for how age verification is implemented across digital platforms, impacting users, service providers, and the broader tech landscape.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
