"But the law has come under constant scrutiny, with critics pointing out it can be easily circumvented by using a virtual private network (VPN), which makes it appear you are accessing the internet from a different location. Pornhub's parent company Aylo has claimed the law has driven people to sites not following the law and increased "exposure to dangerous or illegal content"."
"But some doubt whether its claims of the law's "failure" to protect children are really behind the restrictions. After all, why give a date to get people ready for the move, rather than withdraw access immediately? That, and whether the move is a stunt to gain more registered users, is something posed by law researcher Prof Clare McGlynn of Durham University. She told BBC News that Pornhub's decision may be part of a plan to get politicians to take action."
""Our intention here is not to drive sign-ups," Alex Kekesi, head of community and brand at Aylo, told reporters when it announced the decision. "We're going to further restrict our traffic, so if anything it's a lovely gift to the abundance of other sites that are going to remain open and accessible that are continuing to not age verify in the UK.""
The Online Safety Act required robust age verification measures for many adult sites in July 2025. Critics point out that those checks can be circumvented using virtual private networks (VPNs) that make users appear to be in other locations. Aylo, Pornhub's parent company, says the law has driven people toward unregulated sites and increased exposure to dangerous or illegal content. From 2 February, users who have not previously verified their age will be unable to access Pornhub in the UK. Observers question whether the move reflects genuine safety concerns or a tactical decision to prompt political and public reaction. Aylo and its owner Ethical Capital Partners deny the restrictions aim to boost sign-ups.
Read at www.bbc.com
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