Pornhub, one of the world’s most-visited adult websites, has announced it will block access to new users in the United Kingdom starting February 2, 2026. The decision comes amid an ongoing dispute over strict new age-verification laws under the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA), which were introduced to protect minors but have sparked controversy over effectiveness, privacy, and enforcement.
Effective 2 February 2026, Pornhub and its associated platforms including YouPorn and RedTube will no longer allow new UK users to register or access content unless they have already completed the required age verification process. Only existing users in the UK who have previously verified their age will still be able to log in and use the sites.
The restriction comes as adult content platforms nationwide adapt to the Online Safety Act’s requirement that they prevent under-18s from viewing explicit material online through “highly effective” age checks. These can include steps such as uploading government ID, passing biometric face scans, or using credit card verification.
Pornhub’s operator, Aylo, says the current UK system has failed its core objective of keeping minors away from adult content. According to the company’s statements, traffic from UK users has dropped sharply by around 77% since age-verification enforcement intensified in 2025, yet many minors and adults are simply turning to unregulated sites that do not enforce age checks. Aylo believes this shift increases exposure to harmful or illegal material and argues that the law jeopardises user privacy and personal data.
In response, Aylo has called on tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft to develop device-level age verification systems as a more effective way to ensure compliance and protect minors without driving users toward risky corners of the internet.
The UK communications regulator Ofcom responsible for enforcing the Online Safety Act disagrees with Pornhub’s critique. Ofcom maintains that the age-assurance requirements are lawful, proportionate, and increasingly adopted across adult websites, arguing that the choice is clear: comply with the rules or block access for UK users. The regulator says that hundreds of sites have implemented verification systems, and enforcement actions including fines are underway to ensure compliance.
The Online Safety Act a law designed to make the UK one of the strictest countries in the world regarding online protection of children came into force in stages through 2025. Its age-verification provisions require platforms hosting explicit content to confirm users are over 18 before granting access, replacing simple self-certification methods with robust checks.
What This Means for UK Users
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New registrations blocked: From February 2, new UK users without prior verification will see a block page rather than content.
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Existing verified users continue: People who have already verified their age can still use Pornhub and linked sites.
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Shift to alternatives: Many users have already turned to tools such as VPNs to mask their location and bypass restrictions, and unregulated sites remain easy to access.
Privacy and Safety Concerns
The debate around age verification isn’t only about access. Critics argue that requiring users to share sensitive personal data like ID documents or biometric scans raises significant privacy risks, especially if those records are stored or mishandled. A recent data breach at Pornhub’s own systems exposing personal information and activity logs has intensified concerns about how adult platforms handle user data.
Pornhub’s decision to block new UK users highlights growing tensions between regulation, privacy, and online behaviour. While the Online Safety Act aims to better protect children from harmful content, critics say the current framework may have unintended consequences, including discouraging compliance from major platforms and pushing users toward riskier alternatives. As enforcement continues and discussions about device-level age checks and stronger safeguards evolve, the landscape of online adult content in the UK remains in flux.
