In a significant development for digital regulation in Britain, the adult entertainment giant Pornhub has announced it will restrict access for new users in the United Kingdom from the beginning of February. The decision, made by its parent company Aylo, comes as a direct response to the implementation of the Online Safety Act (OSA), which the firm has labelled a "failed system."
Aylo's Stance on the Online Safety Act
Aylo, the Canadian conglomerate that also owns platforms like YouPorn and Redtube, confirmed that new UK registrations will be blocked from 2 February 2026. The company stated it will "no longer participate in the failed system that has been created in the United Kingdom" as a result of the OSA's introduction. This legislation, which came into force last July, mandates robust age verification checks for pornography websites to prevent minors from accessing harmful material.
However, Aylo has launched a scathing critique of the law, arguing that it has paradoxically "made the internet more dangerous for minors and adults" while "jeopardising the privacy and personal data of UK citizens." Alex Kekesi, Aylo's Vice President of Brand and Community, elaborated on this position, stating that the OSA has created an ecosystem where responsible, regulated operators are penalised while thousands of unregulated sites remain easily accessible.
Existing Users and the Regulatory Landscape
It is important to note that existing, age-verified UK users will retain access to Pornhub's services. This move specifically targets new registrations. Aylo's decision highlights a growing tension between major online platforms and UK regulatory frameworks. The company contends that effective enforcement of the OSA is not feasible, citing rampant circumvention and the rapid emergence of new, unregulated sites that fill gaps left by compliant operators.
Ms Kekesi further argued that Ofcom, the communications regulator tasked with enforcing the Act, was "given an impossible mandate" and that it represents "too big a challenge for any regulator to execute within the parameters of the Act." She warned that the current framework is diverting traffic to "darker, unregulated corners of the internet," increasing the risk of exposure to dangerous or illegal content because users are turning to sites without proper uploader verification or content moderation.
Research and Industry Compliance
Recent research appears to support some of Aylo's concerns. A poll conducted by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation earlier this month found that 45% of 1,469 adult pornography users had accessed websites without age checks since the new verification rules were introduced in July, primarily to avoid submitting personal information.
Despite this, Ofcom reports progress in industry adoption. As of 27 January 2026, 68 of the top 100 pornography services in the UK have deployed age checks. An Ofcom spokesperson emphasised that services have a clear choice: implement age checks to protect users as required, or block access to the UK market. The regulator has taken assertive action, launching investigations into more than 80 porn sites and issuing a £1 million fine to one provider, with promises of more enforcement to come.
The spokesperson also noted that the rules are designed to be "flexible and proportionate" and encouraged the industry to develop effective device-level age assurance solutions. They clarified that any changes to the law concerning device-based verification would be a matter for the government, not the regulator. Ofcom confirmed it will continue its dialogue with Aylo to understand the company's change in position.
This standoff between a major online platform and UK regulators underscores the complex challenges of legislating internet safety, balancing child protection, user privacy, and practical enforcement in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
