Pornhub is once again accessible to some users in the United Kingdom, three months after the platform significantly restricted access for British users due to the age verification debate.
Aylo, the Cyprus-based company that owns the popular adult content site, has announced that it will make the platform available to a portion of users in Britain.
In February, the company blocked access to anyone who hadn't previously registered with Pornhub and verified their age. Now, Apple device users who confirm their age through the latest version of their iPhone or iPad operating system will be able to access the site again.
The iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 updates have introduced mandatory age checks for Apple users in the UK, blocking certain websites and filtering messages for those who do not confirm their identity.
Aylo has announced that it will allow iOS users who have confirmed their age to access adult content on Pornhub.
"With the release of iOS 26.4, Apple has introduced the world's first device-level age verification solution for users in the United Kingdom. Starting today, Aylo is taking a measured step to restore access to Pornhub for eligible adult users in the United Kingdom who have confirmed their age through Apple's verification process," a company spokesperson said.
The clash between Pornhub and British authorities began last year, after the new Online Safety Act rules came into force, which set some of the strictest criteria in the world for access to online pornographic content.
From July 25, visitors to adult websites had to verify that they were over 18, through credit card details, uploading an identification document or using a selfie for age assessment.
Following these changes, traffic to major sites like Pornhub plummeted as many British users refused to provide their login details. In October, Pornhub reported that the number of visitors from the UK had fallen by 77 percent compared to July. However, part of this decline could also be attributed to users using VPNs to hide their location.
Aylo has argued that the rules have not been applied equally across the industry and that the current system has pushed users into the darker, more unregulated areas of the internet. According to the company, this means that the goal of protecting minors has not been fully achieved.
In February, the conflict escalated when Pornhub banned access to new British users who had not previously verified their age, making the site virtually inaccessible to most of them.
Now, the latest iOS update appears to offer a verification method that Aylo considers acceptable.
"For years, Aylo has supported device-level age verification as the most effective and protective approach to privacy. That's why today, Aylo is once again welcoming eligible age-verified iOS users in the UK to Pornhub," the company said.
The British communications regulator, Ofcom, has stated that it will remain in close contact with Aylo and will carefully review these changes.
“Services may implement age checks at the device account level, but must be confident that they can demonstrate to Ofcom that the process is highly effective and be willing to provide detailed information when requested,” an Ofcom spokesperson said.
Failure to properly enforce these controls can have serious financial consequences for companies. Ofcom has the power to impose large fines in the event of breaches. In February, the regulator fined Kick Online Entertainment SA £800 for failing to have robust age controls in place.
However, Apple's mandatory verification has also sparked controversy. iPhone users with iOS 26.4 and iPad users with iPadOS 26.4 must confirm their identity to use certain features or services.
Under-18s and adults who fail to verify their age will be subject to online content filters and communication safety features. These tools block sites with adult content, but also some more mainstream sites, including brands like Victoria's Secret and Ann Summers.
Anyone who wants to use the internet without restrictions must submit to Apple a passport, driver's license, government-issued ID, or credit card.
Digital privacy group Big Brother Watch has criticised Apple, accusing it of treating adults in the UK "like children" and setting a dangerous precedent for digital identity.
In an open letter to the company, the organization wrote that the new age and identity verification requirements have restricted the freedom of Britons to search the internet, use apps, and freely obtain or share information.
According to them, users who own Apple devices expect to control them themselves, not be controlled by them. /GazetaExpress/
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