Ofcom is investigating whether Pornhub's age checks still let children through.
Why it matters: The case is an early test of the UK's Online Safety Act and its demand for 'highly effective' age assurance on porn sites. The outcome could shape how regulators assess age-gating across other high-risk platforms.
- Ofcom opened the investigation on Sept. 23, 2026, into Pornhub operator Aylo.
- The regulator says Pornhub's age-assurance setup may not be 'highly effective' under the law.
- The probe focuses on Aylo's implementation of the age-assurance process, not Apple's age checks themselves.
- Pornhub introduced a UK age-assurance approach in May 2026 that relied on device-level checks linked to Apple signals.
Ofcom said on Sept. 23 that it has opened an investigation into whether Pornhub is complying with the UK Online Safety Act's requirements for keeping children from pornographic content through age assurance. The regulator said the issue is whether Aylo, which operates Pornhub, has put in place measures that are highly effective under the law. Ofcom's enforcement notice
The legal standard comes from the Online Safety Act, which requires services hosting pornography to use age verification or age estimation that is highly effective at ensuring under-18s are not normally able to encounter pornographic content. The law does not specify one technical route, but Ofcom has said providers themselves are responsible for making sure any age assurance process meets that standard.
According to contemporaneous reporting, Pornhub introduced a UK age-assurance approach in May 2026 that relied on device-level checks linked to Apple signals. Ofcom's inquiry is focused on how Aylo implemented that process, not on Apple's checks themselves. Reuters also reported the investigation on Sept. 23. Guardian report Reuters report
The probe lands as Ofcom steps up enforcement of the porn age-check regime across the sector, including investigations and fines in 2025 and 2026. In July, the regulator said the share of children encountering highly effective age checks on sampled services rose from 25% to 43% between July 2025 and January 2026, while warning that more work is needed to strengthen protections. Ofcom enforcement Ofcom July update
By the numbers
- Sept. 23, 2026 - date Ofcom opened the Pornhub investigation
- 25% to 43% - increase in the share of children encountering highly effective age checks between July 2025 and January 2026
- May 2026 - month Pornhub introduced its UK age-assurance approach
Yes, but: The sources do not show that children definitely bypassed Pornhub's checks - only that Ofcom is examining whether the system is effective enough under the law.
What's next: Ofcom's investigation is ongoing. No deadline or case outcome was provided in the sources.