Ofcom investigates Pornhub over fears its Apple age checks are still letting children through

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 September 2026 · last updated 24 September 2026.

Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Pornhub owner Aylo amid fears that its Apple-based age verification system is not keeping children off the site. The regulator cautioned that Aylo "may not have conducted sufficient due diligence and testing" before deploying the device-level checks, and that the process "may not be highly effective" under the Online Safety Act. Ofcom enforcement director George Lusty said anything less than highly effective age checks "could leave children at risk." Aylo maintains that Apple's system provides stronger protection than any alternative currently available in the UK.

Pornhub shut out UK new users in February after a 77% traffic drop, then relaunched in May with Apple's built-in age verification as its compliance solution.

Ofcom's own reviews concluded that children remain able to reach the site despite the device-level checks now in place.

Aylo contends that requiring individual porn sites to operate their own verification pushes users toward riskier platforms that disregard Ofcom's rules altogether.