Pornhub is to stop new users in the UK from accessing its site from next week, citing mandatory age checks introduced under the Online Safety Act (OSA). The company, which also operates YouPorn and RedTube, said that from 2 February only verified existing account holders will retain access.
The Cyprus-based firm Aylo, which owns the sites, reported a 77% drop in UK traffic since July 2025, when Ofcom began enforcing age verification. In a statement, the company said it would 'no longer participate in the failed system' created by the OSA.
Alex Kekesi, vice-president of brand and community for Aylo, argued that the law has driven users to unregulated sites, compromising privacy and safety. 'Thousands of irresponsible porn sites will still be easy to access,' she said, adding that circumvention via VPNs has surged, with usage more than doubling to over 1.4 million users in mid-August.
Ofcom confirmed that 68 of the top 100 UK porn services have now implemented age checks. A spokesperson said: 'Porn services have a choice between using age checks to protect users as required under the Act, or to block access to their sites in the UK.' The regulator has launched investigations into over 80 sites and fined one provider £1 million.
Pornhub remains the most popular porn site in the UK, with 9.8 million visitors in August 2025, down 1.5 million from the previous year. The company's move affects new users only, while existing verified accounts remain active.
