Ofcom opens OSA investigation into Pornhub's new age assurance process
Published: 23/09/2026
| Ofcom
Communications regulator Ofcom has announced that it has opened a formal investigation into Aylo, the owner of adult website Pornhub, to establish whether the adult platform complied with legal obligations under the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA).
Pornhub introduced a new age verification process for certain users in May 2026 that relies on third-party verification signals from Apple. The investigation focuses on whether Aylo has implemented highly effective age assurance preventing under-18s from encountering pornographic material and completed a suitable children's access assessment.
Ofcom raised concerns that Aylo may not have executed sufficient due diligence, testing, or access evaluations before introducing the system, potentially undermining its effectiveness in barring children from explicit content.
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