Summary
Pornhub is limiting access for users in the UK starting February 2nd due to age verification requirements set by the Online Safety Act. The platform says that the law has driven users to sites without such checks, potentially exposing them to harmful content. Critics argue that Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can bypass these restrictions, questioning the effectiveness of the age verification laws.
Key Facts
- Pornhub will restrict access to users in the UK from February 2 if they haven't verified their age.
- The changes relate to the UK's Online Safety Act, effective since July 2025, requiring age checks on certain websites.
- Critics highlight that VPNs can be used to get around these restrictions, masking user locations online.
- Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, states that UK traffic to its site dropped significantly due to age checks.
- UK regulators say VPN usage increased after age verification rules began but usage remains higher than before.
- Pornhub denies that the restrictions aim to increase registered users and argues that it's about compliance with legal expectations.
- Experts suggest the moves may aim to gain political attention for changing age verification laws.
