Is Pornhub allowing under-18s access? UK regulator investigates

Britain's media regulator has launched a formal investigation into the parent company of adult content platform Pornhub, examining whether children can still bypass age verification controls to access explicit material. The inquiry, announced on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, centers on Ofcom's mounting concerns that service provider Aylo failed to carry out adequate testing before adopting a third-party verification framework.

The regulatory scrutiny focuses on a mechanism introduced four months prior. After initially blocking new UK users following a sharp decline in traffic, Aylo restored access for certain individuals utilizing Apple's built-in age-verification framework deployed through software updates. Under this system, users confirming they are 18 or older via Apple's device-level checks receive a standard adult experience. However, Ofcom revealed that its own reviews of the device-level checking system demonstrated the website could still be accessed by children.

Media additions

The statutory framework governing the dispute is the Online Safety Act, which came into full force in July 2025. The legislation places strict duties on commercial pornographic sites to deploy highly effective age assurance tools preventing under-18s from encountering sexually explicit content. Regulators emphasize that outsourcing verification to a major technology company does not absolve the platform operator of its legal obligations. Ofcom reiterated in a letter dated 21 September 2026 that content providers retain the non-negotiable responsibility to conduct thorough due diligence on age-assurance vendors.

Industry reaction to the probe has exposed sharp disagreements over the reliability of device-level safeguards. Aylo defended its implementation choice, arguing that device-level verification offers exceptionally strong privacy-preserving protection. Alex Kekesi, vice-president of brand and community at Aylo, stated that the company hopes regulators will recognize Apple's system as one of the hardest-to-circumvent protections available. According to The Guardian, Alex Kekesi stated that the company would cooperate fully with the investigation. Aylo has previously maintained that strict legal mandates inadvertently drive traffic toward darker, unregulated corners of the web.

Child safety advocates welcomed the intervention. Beeban Kidron, a crossbench peer and prominent campaigner for child internet safety, expressed hope that the regulatory action would prompt a renewed corporate focus on robust age verification across the entire sector. Meanwhile, George Lusty, Ofcom’s director of enforcement, underscored the absolute necessity of stringent controls, stating that online age checks are a vital protection to prevent children from encountering inappropriate or harmful material, including pornography, as reported by Techdigest. He added that the watchdog expects tech firms to guarantee verification efficacy prior to rollout.

The wider enforcement landscape shows that the watchdog has already levied financial penalties on adult content platforms totaling more than £1 million over age check failures.

What happens next depends on the findings of the ongoing case team. If Aylo is found to have breached its statutory duties under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom holds the authority to issue severe financial penalties reaching up to eighteen million pounds or ten percent of global annual turnover, alongside potential web-blocking directions enforced through internet service providers and payment processors. Aylo has confirmed its active engagement with the case team as the statutory inquiry proceeds.