Solomon Friedman, a senior executive at Ethical Capital Partners (ECP) — the parent company of adult entertainment juggernaut Aylo, which operates Pornhub — has endorsed the activation of porn filters on digital devices by default. The announcement came during a virtual event marking ECP’s first anniversary of acquiring Aylo, aiming to showcase the company’s revamped trust and safety initiatives.

Friedman’s declaration introduces a striking standpoint from an entity at the helm of one of the largest adult content platforms. He articulated a vision where digital devices, the gateways to the internet’s myriad adult-oriented content, come with pre-activated controls to block access until the user’s age is verified. This approach, according to Friedman, is essential not just for restricting access to adult entertainment but also for shielding minors from the broader spectrum of adult content online, including alcohol, cannabis, gambling, and certain video games.

“This is going to surprise some people … we want every single device sold … to be blocked from accessing adult [content] by default until the age of the user is verified on the device,” Friedman stated, underscoring the urgency of implementing device-based age verification to protect youth online. ECP’s readiness to collaborate with governments and tech giants to perfect this technology underscores their commitment to a safer digital ecosystem for minors.

Sarah Bain, ECP’s vice president for public engagement, echoed Friedman’s sentiments, emphasizing the global imperative of age verification to prevent minors’ exposure to adult content while safeguarding user privacy and preventing unintended consequences.

Aylo has been vocal in its critique of age verification laws that demand personal identification, particularly highlighting concerns in states like Utah and Texas, advocating instead for a device-based verification approach.

The stance, however, stirs potential controversy within the adult entertainment community, which has historically resisted government-mandated content filtering. The Free Speech Coalition (FSC), a prominent advocate for the adult industry, expressed general support for device-level filters as a privacy-preserving alternative to government-imposed age verification. However, the organization is still deliberating the implications of mandating manufacturers to activate such filters by default.

FSC’s cautious response underscores the complex dynamics of content filtering and age verification, reflecting concerns previously voiced against overly broad filtering measures. Mike Stabile, FSC’s Director of Public Affairs, highlighted in past discussions the inherent challenges of content blocking, noting the business inclination to over-filter to ensure compliance.

As the debate unfolds, ECP’s proactive stance signals a significant shift in the conversation around protecting minors online. By advocating for default device filters, Aylo and its parent company are positioning themselves at the forefront of a movement towards a more regulated and safer internet for all users, particularly the most vulnerable. This development invites broader industry reflection on the balance between open access to content and the imperative to shield minors from inappropriate material, setting the stage for potential policy shifts and technological advancements in the age verification arena.

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• You can follow Mike Stable on Twitter at @mikestabile.