Pornhub has announced a new policy requiring all creators on its platform to undergo criminal background checks beginning next year, marking one of the company’s most extensive safety measures to date.

In an email distributed to content partners this week, the company stated that the change is part of an effort to enhance “community safety” and maintain “a safer, more trustworthy environment.” The message, sent under the Pornhub brand banner, outlined that all new applicants must complete a background check during onboarding, while existing creators will be required to do the same in 2026.

“At Pornhub, community safety is our top priority,” the letter reads. “To further protect our creators and users, all new applicants must now complete a criminal background check during onboarding. Existing content partners (like you) will need to do this in 2026.”

The company added that the process will be free for creators and conducted securely:

“We will contact you with instructions for securely completing a background check at no cost to you. These steps are essential to maintaining the integrity and safety of our platform.”

Pornhub did not specify what types of offenses or “criminal histories” would disqualify individuals from participating, nor did it clarify how far back the checks would extend. It also remains unclear whether the policy will apply uniformly across jurisdictions, given the platform’s international user base.

The announcement follows years of mounting scrutiny over the adult site’s moderation and verification practices. Since 2020, Pornhub has implemented several rounds of reforms, including mandatory ID verification for all uploaders and the removal of millions of unverified videos, in response to widespread criticism and government inquiries into illegal content hosted on the platform.

The latest move aligns with parent company Aylo (formerly MindGeek)’s broader push to position itself as a compliant and transparent operator in the global adult entertainment market.

Critics and advocates alike say the background-check policy raises new questions about privacy, fairness, and how the company will handle sensitive or expunged records. Still, the initiative appears aimed at preempting further regulatory pressure as governments worldwide tighten oversight of adult platforms.

Pornhub said it will provide more information to existing content partners “early next year” as the rollout begins.

The company concluded its letter by thanking creators for their cooperation in “keeping Pornhub a safe and inclusive community.”

Further details on the scope and implementation of the background checks have not yet been released.

Update: I’m happy to say Pornhub has responded to our story with some clarifications on their new policy.

Hi there! We’d like to clarify this a little bit. This is only being implemented for Content Partners (production companies/studios) who operate channels on Pornhub. This does not apply to individual Models or Pornstars. Additionally, we’d also like to note that we’re not interested in minor criminal charges. These background checks for Content Partners (production companies/studios) are more concerned with detecting trafficking, fraud, and other major red flags that would signal a potentially poor business partner.