Aylo, the owner of adult sites Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube, says it will introduce "government approved age assurance methods" in the UK. The company has not yet revealed how it will require users to prove they are over 18, but UK regulator Ofcom says simply clicking a button, which is all the adult site currently requires, is not enough. Pornhub has resisted age checks elsewhere, including in France - where it recently suspended its siteamid a battle over the country's age verification rules. Under the Online Safety Act pornographic sites must introduce "robust" age checking techniques, such as demanding photo ID or running credit card checks for UK users, by this summer. Aylo said it would introduce the new methods to check user ages on its sites by 25 July. Pornhub is the most visited porn site in the world,according to data from Similarweb. It has been under scrutiny by regulators worldwide over its measures to prevent children accessing its content. The European Commissionannounced an investigation into Pornhub, along with two other adult platforms, at the end of May. In the UK, Ofcom is probing several adult sites it believesmay be failing to abide by its child safety rules. In a statement, Aylo's vice president of brand and community Alex Kekesi said Ofcom presented a variety of flexible methods of age assurance that were less intrusive than those it had seen in other jurisdictions. "Ofcom recognises the scale of the challenge ahead and is approaching it with thorough consideration," he said. The regulator's model is "the most robust in terms of actual and meaningful protection we've seen to date," he added. "When governments and regulators engage with industry in good faith, the outcome is not just better compliance, it's smarter, more effective solutions". But the statement does not yet reveal what methods the site will actually employ to check users ages. Ofcom has been approached for comment.
Pornhub to introduce 'government approved' UK age checks
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"Aylo to Implement Government-Approved Age Verification for Pornhub in the UK"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Aylo, the parent company of popular adult websites such as Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube, has announced its intention to implement age verification methods that comply with UK government regulations. While specific details on how users will prove their age have not been disclosed, UK regulator Ofcom has indicated that the current method of merely clicking a button is insufficient. This move comes in the wake of the Online Safety Act, which mandates adult sites to adopt robust age verification techniques to ensure that individuals accessing their content are over 18. These measures could include requiring users to provide photo identification or undergo credit card checks. Aylo has committed to introducing these new age verification methods by July 25, as part of its efforts to align with UK regulations and enhance child safety online.
The scrutiny surrounding Pornhub and similar adult platforms has intensified, with Ofcom currently investigating several sites for potential non-compliance with child safety regulations. This follows an investigation by the European Commission into Pornhub and two other adult platforms earlier in May. Alex Kekesi, Aylo's vice president of brand and community, praised Ofcom for proposing flexible age assurance methods that are less intrusive compared to those implemented in other countries. He acknowledged the significant challenges ahead but expressed optimism that collaborative efforts between governments, regulators, and industry could lead to more effective solutions for age verification. However, the company has yet to clarify the exact mechanisms it will utilize for age checks, leaving some uncertainty regarding the implementation of these new regulations.
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