Pornhub has argued that the UK's new internet age verification requirements under the Online Safety Act have inadvertently boosted non-compliant adult websites that do not protect children from harmful content. The company wrote to around 300 MPs, claiming the law had "failed" in its stated goal. According to Pornhub data from June, non-compliant sites occupied seven out of the top 10 search results for "free porn," suggesting these rogue platforms are gaining visibility.

The government introduced strict age-checking measures last summer, requiring methods such as facial scanning and credit card verification to prevent underage access. While the communications regulator Ofcom reported a roughly one-third drop in daily visitors to porn sites and noted that all top 10 and most top 100 UK porn sites were now compliant, it acknowledged loopholes remain—users can still access unverified sites via search engines. Ofcom is working with Google and Microsoft's Bing to address this.

Pornhub's parent company Aylo previously closed the platform to new users, citing the system as "flawed," before reopening for Apple users who had device-level age confirmation. Aylo advocates for device-level checks as the most effective age assurance method, though current regulations place the burden of proof on web services. Ofcom emphasized further action is needed, especially ahead of planned social media restrictions for under-16s.