- The UK communications regulator, Ofcom , has launched a formal investigation into Aylo, the operating company behind Pornhub , over concerns that its age-verification controls do not adequately prevent children from accessing adult content.
- Under the Online Safety Act, service providers are legally obligated to implement highly effective age-checking mechanisms, but Ofcom expressed concern that Aylo failed to conduct sufficient due diligence before adopting its current system.
- In May, Aylo introduced device-level checks using Apple's verification method to confirm UK users are 18 or older, following earlier assertions in January that the UK's regulatory framework had failed its intended purpose.
- Ofcom clarified that its investigation focuses strictly on Aylo's legal responsibilities rather than Apple's technology, warning that tech firms must ensure age verification is thoroughly proven before deploying it to protect minors.
- If the investigation finds that Aylo has breached the law, the company could face substantial penalties, including fines of up to £18 million or 10 per cent of its qualifying global revenue.
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