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Pornhub Owner Aylo Blocks Access in France Over Age Verification Law

Pornhub Owner Aylo Blocks Access in France Over Child Protection Law Dispute

In a dramatic escalation of tensions between regulators and tech platforms, Aylo—the adult content giant behind Pornhub, RedTube, and YouPorn—has announced the suspension of its services in France. The company made the move in protest against a recently enforced French law that requires pornographic websites to implement stringent age verification mechanisms to prevent minors from accessing explicit content.

The announcement came on Tuesday, just days before the Saturday deadline set by French regulators for compliance. Aylo, formerly known as MindGeek, framed its withdrawal as a stand against what it describes as a flawed and potentially dangerous policy.

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A Law Meant to Protect Minors

At the heart of the dispute lies France’s SREN law (Sécuriser et Réguler l'Espace Numérique), passed in 2023. This legislation mandates that adult content platforms must verify that users are at least 18 years old through reliable and privacy-conscious methods. If they fail to comply, the French media and internet watchdog Arcom can block their websites and impose significant fines.

The law was introduced in response to mounting concerns about minors being exposed to increasingly violent and degrading content online. Advocates argue that current measures like age gates (“Are you over 18?” pop-ups) are ineffective and easily bypassed by children. French officials say the law is an essential step toward protecting young internet users from harm.

Aylo Pushes Back

Aylo, which operates multiple adult websites with millions of users worldwide, has openly criticised the French law. Solomon Friedman, a partner at Ethical Capital Partners—the investment firm behind Aylo—said during a press briefing that the new requirements are not only “ineffective,” but also “dangerous” and a potential threat to users’ privacy.

"We cannot, in good conscience, implement a system that might expose users to surveillance or data breaches," Friedman argued. He said that Aylo’s platforms would instead display a message to French users explaining their side of the story and warning of the risks posed by government-mandated age verification.

In a statement, a Pornhub spokesperson confirmed:

"Aylo has made the difficult decision to suspend access to its user-uploaded platforms in France. We will be using our platforms to directly address the French public.”

Government Response: Good Riddance?

French officials, however, appeared largely unfazed by the company’s exit. Aurore Bergé, the French Minister for Gender Equality, responded with a curt "au revoir" on X (formerly Twitter), signalling no regrets over the crackdown.

"There will be less violent, degrading, and humiliating content accessible to minors in France," Bergé added.

Similarly, Clara Chappaz, the junior minister for artificial intelligence and digital technology, emphasised that companies must comply with national laws if they want to operate within the country.

“If Aylo would rather leave France then apply our laws, they are free to do so,” she said.

EU Also Taking Action

France isn’t the only jurisdiction putting pressure on the adult content industry. Just last week, the European Commission opened formal proceedings against Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos under the Digital Services Act (DSA)—a sweeping regulation designed to make the internet safer and more transparent for users across the European Union.

The investigation will look into whether these platforms have taken adequate steps to prevent minors from accessing pornographic material and whether their current age verification systems are sufficient.

Aylo responded to the EU probe by saying it was “fully committed” to online child safety and was cooperating with regulators. The other platforms named declined to comment.

A Debate Over Privacy vs Protection

The core of the controversy reflects a broader, global debate: How can societies protect children from online harms without compromising user privacy and freedom?

Proponents of France’s law argue that the adult content industry has failed to self-regulate effectively, leaving minors vulnerable. They believe that mandatory age verification—possibly using digital ID cards or third-party verifiers—is a necessary step in closing the loopholes.

Critics, including Aylo, argue that such systems are vulnerable to abuse, data leaks, or government overreach. They point out that adult content is legal for adults and should not require users to give up their anonymity just to access it.

Tech experts also raise questions about the effectiveness of these measures. If major sites like Pornhub leave a country, they argue, users may simply migrate to more obscure or unregulated websites with fewer safety measures in place.

What Happens Next?

For now, French users attempting to access Aylo’s platforms will be greeted by a shutdown notice. Whether this move pressures the French government to reconsider its stance remains to be seen. In the meantime, the legal battles around privacy, regulation, and child protection are likely to intensify, both in France and across the European Union.

One thing is certain: the clash between digital freedom and digital safety is far from over—and it’s playing out on a global stage.

Conclusion

Aylo’s decision to block access to Pornhub, RedTube, and other platforms in France underscores a growing global debate over online privacy, child protection, and government regulation of digital content. While French authorities argue that stricter age verification safeguards minors from harmful exposure, Aylo insists that such measures pose significant risks to user privacy and are ultimately ineffective. As regulators in the EU and beyond continue to tighten rules around adult content, this standoff could set a precedent for how tech and adult entertainment companies respond to government-mandated compliance—balancing protection with personal freedom and data security.

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