Pornhub Restricts UK Access After Safety Crackdown
Pornhub has begun restricting access for UK users today, blocking new account registrations as part of a major crackdown linked to child safety regulations under the UK’s Online Safety Act.
The world’s largest pornography platform now prevents new UK users from creating accounts, meaning only those who already have an account with verified age credentials can continue accessing explicit content. Without a verified account, users are effectively barred from the service.
The decision was implemented by Pornhub’s parent company Aylo, which has also rolled out the same restrictions across its other adult platforms, including YouPorn and Redtube.
Online Safety Act Sparks Platform Pushback
The move follows changes introduced in July last year under the UK’s Online Safety Act, which requires websites hosting pornographic content to introduce robust age-verification measures. These include checks such as official ID uploads or biometric verification like selfies.
Aylo has publicly argued that the law has failed to achieve its main goal: preventing children from accessing adult material.
In a statement, the company said that despite six months of enforcement, the Act has not delivered effective child protection and has instead driven users toward “darker, unregulated corners of the internet,” while also raising concerns over user privacy and data security.
Users Avoiding Age Checks, Research Suggests
Recent research appears to support these claims. A poll conducted by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation found that 45% of adult pornography users in the UK admitted to accessing websites without age checks since the new rules were introduced, primarily to avoid sharing personal information.
Aylo warned that widespread circumvention of age-verification systems has made enforcement difficult and allowed unregulated platforms to grow rapidly, increasing the risk of exposure to illegal or harmful content.
Pornhub Now Shows Only Non-Explicit Content in the UK
As of today, Pornhub’s UK version displays only non-explicit videos. Visitors also see a notice stating:
“Pornhub is not currently accepting new account registrations in your region.”
According to official figures, 68 of the top 100 pornography services operating in the UK had implemented age-verification checks by January 27.
Ofcom Responds to Industry Concerns
The UK media regulator Ofcom, which oversees enforcement of the Online Safety Act, responded by stating that pornographic websites must either comply with age-verification requirements or block access in the UK altogether.
Ofcom confirmed it has already launched investigations into more than 80 pornography websites, issued fines totaling £1 million, and said further enforcement action is expected.
The regulator added that any potential changes to device-level age assurance systems would be a matter for the UK government, not regulators.
Ongoing Debate Over Online Child Safety
The situation highlights growing tension between regulators and adult-content platforms over how best to protect children online without compromising privacy or driving users toward unsafe, unregulated websites.
Ofcom said it will continue discussions with Aylo to better understand the company’s decision, while reaffirming its commitment to enforcing the law as it currently stands.
