Britain’s media watchdog Ofcom has launched a probe into whether Aylo’s age-checking systems adequately protect children from accessing adult content.
Britain’s media regulator Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into Aylo, the Montreal-based parent company of Pornhub, over concerns that its age verification safeguards may not be sufficiently protecting minors from accessing pornographic material. According to the Jamaica Observer, citing AFP reporting, Ofcom is examining whether Aylo has met its legal obligations under Britain’s online safety framework.
The investigation stems from Aylo’s approach to complying with the UK Online Safety Act, which took effect in July 2025. After initially blocking all new UK users from accessing Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube in February citing child protection concerns, the company partially reopened access in May to users who passed age verification checks. However, Ofcom has flagged concerns that the company may not have conducted adequate testing before rolling out its new age assurance process, which relies on Apple’s technology for device-based verification.
Ofcom stated it is concerned that Aylo’s process may not be sufficiently effective at preventing children from viewing pornography. The regulator noted that the company “may not have conducted sufficient due diligence and testing before implementing its new age assurance process.” Aylo has responded by committing to full cooperation with the investigation and defending Apple’s verification method as providing “significantly stronger protection than any other age assurance method currently available in the UK market.”
The stakes are significant: if Ofcom determines that Aylo has violated the Online Safety Act, the regulator can impose fines of up to £18 million or 10 percent of the company’s qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater. Aylo has previously argued that the strict age verification requirements have pushed traffic toward unregulated platforms, suggesting the law has not achieved its intended goal of protecting minors.
The UK Online Safety Act, which entered into force in July 2025, represents one of the world’s most stringent regulatory frameworks for adult content platforms. The law requires pornographic websites to implement robust age verification checks using methods such as facial recognition or credit card identification, or face substantial penalties. Aylo’s initial decision to block UK access in February reflected the challenges platforms face in balancing compliance with accessibility and privacy concerns.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: Business · Island routing: Jamaica