Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube, has announced that it will implement “government-approved age assurance methods” for its UK users by July 25, in response to new requirements under the Online Safety Act.

The move marks a significant shift for Aylo, which has previously resisted age verification mandates in jurisdictions like France. In that case, the company temporarily suspended access to its sites in protest against what it called unworkable verification demands.

Under the UK’s new law, enforced by communications regulator Ofcom, adult websites must introduce robust age checks, such as scanning photo ID or verifying credit card details, to ensure that minors cannot access explicit material online. Simple click-through declarations of age are no longer deemed sufficient.

While Aylo confirmed that it will comply with the new rules, the company has not disclosed the specific verification methods it plans to use. In a statement, Alex Kekesi, vice president of brand and community at Aylo, praised Ofcom’s regulatory framework for its balance between protecting minors and preserving user privacy.

“The United Kingdom is the first country to present these same priorities demonstrably,” said Kekesi. “Ofcom has consulted with industry stakeholders and has presented a variety of flexible methods of age assurance that are less intrusive than we have seen in other jurisdictions.”

He added that Ofcom’s approach is “the most robust in terms of actual and meaningful protection we’ve seen to date.”

Pornhub is currently the most visited adult website in the world, according to traffic analytics firm Similarweb. It has increasingly come under pressure from regulators globally over how it prevents minors from accessing its content.

The European Commission launched an investigation in May into Pornhub and two other adult platforms, focusing on their compliance with child protection standards under the Digital Services Act. In the UK, Ofcom is already investigating several adult sites suspected of violating the country’s online safety rules.

All adult content platforms operating in the UK’s digital space are expected to implement age checks in the coming weeks. Failure to comply could result in blocking orders, fines, or even criminal sanctions under the Online Safety Act.

Ofcom is expected to publish formal guidance later this year, including acceptable forms of age verification and privacy safeguards for users.

Kekesi said Aylo welcomes the constructive dialogue with regulators and hopes the UK model sets a precedent for other jurisdictions:

“When governments and regulators engage with industry in good faith, the outcome is not just better compliance, it’s smarter, more effective solutions.”