Sigma Live

Pornhub Restricts Access in the UK Due to New Online Safety Act

Published January 28, 2026, 07:10
Pornhub Restricts Access in the UK Due to New Online Safety Act

Pornhub is restricting access to its platform in the United Kingdom starting February 2nd, in response to the new Online Safety Act (OSA) which mandates stricter age verification. Only users with existing accounts will be able to access the platform, while new visitors will be blocked. Aylo, the company operating Pornhub, argues that the new requirements have led to a 77% decrease in traffic and a shift in activity to less regulated websites. Ofcom, the UK regulatory authority, disagrees, stating that the measures prevent children from accessing inappropriate content. Aylo expresses concerns that legitimate platforms will become unavailable while illegal ones remain accessible. The UK government assures that the law does not aim to ban adult access to legal content, but to protect minors. Despite the restrictions, Pornhub remains the largest platform of its kind in the UK, with an increase in VPN usage to bypass the limitations.