Full Breakdown
Aylo Allows UK iOS Users Back onto Pornhub After Apple Age-Verification Rollout
5/5/2026, 10:05:55 PM
Core Event
Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, announced that the site will again be accessible to UK users who verify their age through Apple’s latest iOS 26.4 (and corresponding iPadOS) update. The change follows a February-2025 restriction that limited UK access to only previously registered users who had completed the Online Safety Act (OSA) age-verification process.
Background & Context
The UK’s Online Safety Act requires adult-content platforms to implement robust age checks. In February 2025, Aylo halted new registrations for most UK visitors, citing an uneven industry-wide rollout of OSA-compliant solutions. By October 2025, the company reported a > 75 % drop in UK traffic, attributing the decline to the stricter checks, though some observers suggested users might be bypassing restrictions with VPNs.
Apple’s Device-Level Age Verification
Apple introduced a device-based age-verification system in March 2025 with iOS 26.4. The mechanism confirms a user’s age by examining account longevity, linked payment methods, or scanned identification. Initially, verification required a credit card or driver’s licence; Apple later added passports to the supported documents list. The rollout prompted UK iPhone and iPad owners to complete the check before accessing adult sites. Ofcom described the measures as a “real win” for child-online safety.
Official Statements & Responses
Aylo’s head of community and brand, Alex Kekesi, said the iOS solution represents “the world’s first ever device-based age verification” and welcomed “eligible age-confirmed UK iOS users back to Pornhub.” An Ofcom spokesperson confirmed ongoing dialogue with Aylo, noting the regulator will “carefully scrutinise these changes.” Ofcom also emphasized that responsibility for protecting children “falls firmly on sites and apps,” and that services must demonstrate highly effective age-check processes when requested.
Criticism & Opposition
Big Brother Watch, a digital-rights campaign, criticised Apple’s approach as a “chokehold on Britons’ freedom to search the internet.” Director Silkie Carlo warned that blocking sites for users unable or unwilling to prove their age effectively creates a “child’s device” for millions of UK residents.
Data & Impact
- Traffic from UK users fell >75 % after OSA-driven checks were introduced (October 2025).
- Apple’s age-verification prompts appear on all up-to-date iPhone and iPad devices in the UK.
- Initial verification hurdles (credit-card/driver’s licence requirement) prompted user complaints; Apple later expanded accepted documents to include passports.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the extent to which UK users are circumventing restrictions via VPNs, and no independent audit of Apple’s verification accuracy has been published. Additionally, the precise number of users who have successfully re-gained access to Pornhub remains undisclosed.
What’s Next
Aylo indicated it will remain in “close contact” with Ofcom as the regulator evaluates the new access pathway. Ofcom is expected to request detailed evidence of the effectiveness of Apple’s device-level checks. Meanwhile, advocacy groups plan to monitor the impact on user privacy and internet freedom, potentially prompting further legal or policy challenges.
Verbatim Quotes
- “With the release of iOS 26.4 Apple has introduced the world's first ever device-based age verification solution for its users in the UK, a major first step towards a global solution that stands to better protect children everywhere,” — Alex Kekesi, head of community and brand, Aylo
- “As a result, today Aylo welcomes eligible age-confirmed UK iOS users back to Pornhub.” — Alex Kekesi, Aylo
- “We remain in close contact with Aylo, and will carefully scrutinise these changes,” — Ofcom spokesperson
- “Its director Silkie Carlo said in March that by blocking sites, content or app downloads for those who cannot or do not want to prove their age, Apple was effectively leaving millions of people in the UK with a "child's device".” — Silkie Carlo, director, Big Brother Watch
