● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact1 negative1 neutral
Ofcom investigates Pornhub owner Aylo over age verification effectiveness
Key points
- Ofcom investigates Aylo (Pornhub owner) for age verification effectiveness.
- Concerns exist regarding due diligence on new third-party age checks.
- UK's Online Safety Act requires highly effective age assurance.
- Non-compliant companies face fines up to £18 million or 10% turnover.
- Pornhub began using a new age assurance process in May.
- The new age assurance method relies on signals from Apple.
Ofcom Launches Investigation
Ofcom has initiated an investigation into Aylo, the company that owns Pornhub, to assess the effectiveness of its new age verification processes. The regulator is examining whether these new checks adequately prevent children from accessing adult material on the platform.
Concerns Over Due Diligence
The investigation stems from concerns that Aylo may not have performed adequate due diligence and testing before implementing its new age verification system. This system, which for some users relies on a third party like Apple, is suspected of potentially not being highly effective in preventing minors from viewing pornography.
Online Safety Act Requirements
Under the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA), websites hosting pornographic content are mandated to employ highly effective age assurance methods to confirm users are over 18. Ofcom's probe will specifically evaluate Aylo's implementation of these processes and the thoroughness of its pre-implementation due diligence.
Previous Clashes and Site Access
This investigation marks another instance of regulatory scrutiny for Pornhub. Previously, Pornhub reported a significant drop in UK user traffic following the OSA's introduction of more robust age checks. In January, the site restricted UK access, citing the tougher regulations, before partially restoring access in May for some UK Apple users with updated iOS versions who had confirmed their age.
Potential Penalties
Companies found to be non-compliant with the Online Safety Act face substantial penalties. Ofcom has the authority to impose fines up to £18 million or 10% of a company's annual global turnover, whichever amount is greater.
Updates
- Pornhub began using a new age assurance process in May.
- The new age assurance method relies on signals from Apple.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
The UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, is investigating Aylo, Pornhub's parent company, for alleged non-compliance with the Online Safety Act regarding age verification. Ofcom is concerned that Aylo's new age assurance process, which relies on Apple signals, may not be sufficiently effective in preventing minors from accessing adult content.
Ofcom has launched an investigation into Aylo, owner of Pornhub, to determine if its new age verification system effectively prevents minors from accessing adult content. The regulator is concerned Aylo may not have conducted sufficient due diligence before implementing the third-party age checks, which could leave children at risk under the UK's Online Safety Act.