Pornhub Withdraws from France over Age Verification Dispute

Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube, has suspended access to its adult content platforms in France due to opposition to a new French law requiring stringent age verification for pornographic websites. The law, passed in 2023 and effective June 7, mandates websites to verify users' ages through credit cards or government-issued IDs, with a double-blind option intended to protect user anonymity. Aylo argues these requirements pose significant privacy risks and are ineffective, advocating instead for age verification at the device level through operating systems by companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft. French authorities, including Digital Affairs Minister Clara Chappaz, have criticized Aylo's withdrawal and emphasized the necessity of these measures to prevent minors' access to adult content, noting millions of minors currently bypass restrictions. Aylo plans to display messages to French users explaining their stance, highlighting concerns about privacy infringements and the law's inefficacy, while French regulators warn of fines and site blocking for non-compliance. This standoff reflects broader regulatory challenges faced by adult content providers across Europe aiming to balance user privacy with child protection.