The UK’s media regulator Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Aylo, the company that owns Pornhub, to assess the effectiveness of the platform’s age verification process. The probe focuses on whether Aylo properly conducted due diligence and testing before implementing a new age check system that utilizes Apple’s technology for some users.
Under the Online Safety Act, websites hosting pornographic material must employ highly effective age assurance methods to prevent access by minors, though the specific verification approach is left to individual services to determine. Ofcom has expressed concerns that Aylo may not have sufficiently evaluated the new process before rollout, raising questions about whether it meets the required effectiveness standards. The regulator’s investigation will specifically examine how Aylo implements its age verification procedures and whether it fulfilled necessary testing obligations beforehand. Notably, Ofcom has stated it will not be investigating Apple’s own age-checking operations.
Aylo has defended its system in a statement, asserting that Apple’s verification method offers stronger protection than alternative age assurance options currently available in the UK market. The company argues that such device-based systems prevent users from turning to non-compliant websites that may pose greater risks, including potential hosting of illegal content. However, experts have raised technical questions about whether device-level filtering alone can reliably verify that the same individual who originally confirmed their age continues to access the site at each login.
This investigation represents the latest regulatory action against the platform following earlier compliance disputes. In 2025, Pornhub reported that UK traffic declined significantly following stricter age verification requirements, prompting the company to initially restrict UK access. The platform subsequently announced it would resume availability for certain Apple users in the UK who completed the updated age verification process.
Ofcom possesses enforcement authority to impose substantial penalties on non-compliant companies, including fines of up to £18 million or 10 percent of global annual turnover, whichever amount is greater.
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