amynicole – Aylo, the company behind major adult sites like Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube, announced it would cease operations in France starting Wednesday. The decision comes as a direct response to a new French law that demands more robust age verification systems for adult websites. France is Pornhub’s second-largest market after the United States, making this move highly significant. The company argues the law is not only ineffective but also compromises user privacy. With mounting global scrutiny, Aylo faces increased regulatory challenges beyond France.
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Aylo Criticizes Law as Ineffective and Harmful to Privacy
Aylo executives have spoken out strongly against the French law, calling it dangerous and privacy-infringing. Solomon Friedman, Aylo’s Vice President for Compliance, argued that age verification should be handled at the device or operating system level. He pointed to built-in tools by tech giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft that could provide better protection. Aylo claims that requiring users to upload IDs or credit card details creates privacy risks and deters legitimate users. Company officials emphasized they support age verification but not in its current form.
French Government Responds as Aylo Shuts Access
The French government welcomed the decision, seeing it as a victory in protecting minors from harmful content. Aurore Bergé, France’s Minister for Gender Equality, responded to the news by writing “au revoir” on X, suggesting fewer minors would now be exposed to degrading online material. The law requires adult sites to implement “age assurance” tools that confirm a user’s age without relying solely on self-declaration. This could involve third-party verification services or requiring sensitive personal data, both of which Aylo strongly opposes.
Global Push for Age Assurance Spreads Beyond France
France is not alone in implementing stricter controls on access to adult content. Similarly, several U.S. states have already prompted Aylo to pull out due to comparable laws. Furthermore, the United Kingdom is preparing to enforce its own version of age assurance by July. Specifically, the UK’s media regulator, Ofcom, has mandated that all explicit content providers use stronger methods to confirm users are adults. These methods could include credit card checks, government ID submissions, or even facial recognition software that estimates age from a selfie. As a result, the industry is watching closely, especially as more countries begin to adopt and enforce similar requirements.
Facial Recognition Technology Emerges as Future of Online Age Checks
Companies are increasingly testing new technologies, such as facial detection and age-estimation software, to verify users’ ages online. Platforms like Discord have already started using these methods, which has sparked debates about privacy and security. Experts believe this marks the start of a broader shift toward digital identity checks using biometric data. As governments tighten regulations, the adult industry must now balance privacy risks with the need to comply in a rapidly evolving legal environment.
