Ofcom Investigates Pornhub Parent Company Aylo Over Inadequate Age Verification Procedures

Ofcom has launched an investigation into Aylo, the company operating adult content websites including Pornhub, following concerns regarding its age verification protocols. The media regulator indicated that Aylo "may not have conducted sufficient due diligence" in verifying the ages of its users, a critical obligation under the UK's recently enacted online safety legislation.

The Online Safety Act, which came into effect in autumn 2023, designates Ofcom as the regulator responsible for holding tech companies accountable for safeguarding users. A central tenet of the legislation is the requirement for adult content sites to implement robust age verification. Failure to comply can result in significant penalties, including fines reaching up to £250,000 or 5% of a company's global turnover, whichever is higher.

Ofcom clarified that its investigation will assess whether Aylo has taken adequate measures to prevent underage individuals from accessing its content. The regulator has not specified a timeline for the conclusion of its inquiry, but the outcome will determine if enforcement action is warranted against the adult content provider.