Pornhub is now restricting access for UK users – will other sites follow suit?

Getty ImagesPornhub has said it is limiting access to UK users from 2 February

When Pornhub announced last week that it would be restricting UK access, many were left wondering why.

It was one of many sites forced to bring in robust age verification measures in July 2025 under the Online Safety Act.

But the law has come under constant scrutiny, with critics pointing out it can be easily circumvented by using a virtual private network (VPN), which makes it appear you are accessing the internet from a different s parent company Aylo has claimed the law has driven people to sites not following the law and increased "exposure to dangerous or illegal content".

And from Monday 2 February, people who have not previously verified their age won't be able to access Pornhub in the UK at all.

But some doubt whether its claims of the law's "failure" to protect children are really behind the restrictions.

A move to get more sign-ups?

After all, why give a date to get people ready for the move, rather than withdraw access immediately?

That, and whether the move is a stunt to gain more registered users, is something posed by law researcher Prof Clare McGlynn of Durham University.

She told BBC News that Pornhub's decision may be part of a plan to get politicians to take action.

"They have blocked access in many US states," she said. "Their hope is to whip up political concern, anger of the public, to try to change the law."

Pornhub has blocked access to its site in 23 US states, including Alabama, Florida and Texas, after they passed laws requiring it to verify the age of users.

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Representatives for Aylo and its owner Ethical Capital Partners (ECP) have denied UK restrictions were a ploy to gain more registered users.

"Our intention here is not to drive sign-ups," Alex Kekesi, head of community and brand at Aylo, told reporters when it announced the decision.

"We're going to further restrict our traffic, so if anything it's a lovely gift to the abundance of other sites that are going to remain open and accessible that are continuing to not age verify in the UK."

In October, Aylo said age checks had led to a 77% fall in UK traffic to its site – although Ofcom's annual survey puts that as more of a reduction of 31%, between July and August 2025, just after age check rules took effect.

But any fall in UK traffic will not account for those using VPNs to circumvent age checks.

An elephant in the room: VPNs

The amount of people using VPNs in the UK is unclear.

Ofcom said in October they were used for general purposes by around a million people every day. Cybernews researchers counted more than 10.7 million

Original aticle here: BBC