The Guardian
· collected 2026-10-07 · by Josh Taylor Technology reporter
Pornhub is now accessible again in Australia after implementing Apple’s device-level age verification system in response to strict online safety regulations. In March, Pornhub had blocked Australian users due to a requirement for adult websites to verify users as 18 or older to avoid potential fines of $49.5 million. The new age-check feature on iOS devices allows users to confirm their age through various methods, including credit card information and government-issued IDs, ensuring that only verified adults can access the site. Pornhub’s vice-president for brand and community, Alex Kekesi, praised Apple's approach as a strong measure to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content and called for similar measures globally.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In March, Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, blocked access to its site for users from Australia due to new online safety codes requiring adult websites to verify users' ages as 18 or older. Failure to comply would result in potential fines of up to $49.5 million. Aylo argued that these age-checking measures were ineffective and posed data privacy risks.
However, after Apple implemented device-level age verification features on iOS, Pornhub has now resumed operations in Australia. This change allows users to confirm their age using various methods like credit cards or government-issued IDs directly through the Apple system. The return of Pornhub to Australia follows a period when many Australian adults turned to virtual private network (VPN) apps to bypass the country’s restrictions, causing a surge in downloads for such services.
Written for “Pornhub Age Verification Controversy” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.25, but 1 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 2 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 61595: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-07
Australian adults will be able to access Pornhub once again after the site brought in age-checking on Apple devices in response to legal requirements that initially saw the site block users.
asserted
site → access → users
In March, Aylo, the parent company of the most popular porn site on the internet, blocked Australian users after online safety codes required adult websites verify users as being 18 or older or face potential fines of $49.5m.
Aylo said at the time the age checking requirements would not protect minors and create data privacy risks for users required to provide their personal information to the sites verifying ages.
asserted
requirements → block → ages
Shortly after access was blocked, three virtual private network apps that allow users to appear to be outside Australia rocketed up the app download charts.
asserted
users → block → charts
On Wednesday, Aylo’s vice-president for brand and community, Alex Kekesi, said Pornhub would return to Australia now that Apple had implemented age-checking features at the device level in iOS.
asserted
Apple → say → iOS
Apple rolled out its new age checks in Australia last month after a UK rollout earlier this year.
asserted
Apple → roll → rollout
Under the requirements, people can confirm their age with Apple by using a credit card, scanning their passport, driver’s licence or government ID.
asserted
people → confirm → passport
But for existing Apple account holders, the company can check the existing credit card on file, or by looking at the length of time that person has held that account.
asserted
person → exist → account
Content filtering and restrictions from downloading apps identified at 18 or older are in place until a user is identified as being over 18.
asserted
user → download → 18
Kekesi said Apple’s approach “set a benchmark by enabling child safety features automatically for users who have not verified that they are adults, ultimately, making every phone or tablet kid-safe as a starting point”.
asserted
phone → say → point
Aylo would restore access to Pornhub users in Australia who have confirmed their age through Apple’s age-verification process, Kekesi said.
asserted
Kekesi → restore → process
“In our view, Apple’s Australian device-level age-verification update offers one of the strongest and hardest-to-circumvent protections currently available for helping prevent minors from accessing age-inappropriate content,” Kekesi said.
asserted
Kekesi → circumvent → content
“We congratulate Apple on their extended age requirements for Apple accounts in Australia.”
asserted
We → congratulate → Australia
Kekesi urged Apple to roll out the feature globally and for Microsoft and Google to follow suit.
asserted
Microsoft → urge → suit
“We are determined to be part of this solution and want to collaborate with government, civil society and tech partners to arrive at an effective kid-safe-by-default solution.”
asserted
We → determine → solution
When Aylo blocked Australian users in March, the office of the eSafety commissioner said it was ultimately a business decision for them.
asserted
it → block → them
The sex worker advocacy group Scarlet Alliance warned the requirement risked having a “chilling effect” on platforms willing to host online advertising for their services and content, and could lead to over-filtering of content, including sexual health information, due to concern about being in breach.
uncertain
requirement → warn → breach
The media regualtor, Ofcom, is investigating whether minors could still access the site.
uncertain
minors → investigate → site
“We are concerned that Aylo may not have conducted sufficient due diligence and testing before implementing its new age assurance process,” Ofcom said last month.
uncertain
Ofcom → concern → process
“As a result, we are concerned that Aylo’s process may not be highly effective at preventing children from seeing pornography.”
uncertain
process → concern → pornography
Aylo said it would cooperate fully with the investigation, and Apple’s age-check method was one of the strongest and hardest to circumvent models available.
asserted
method → say → models
The boom in popularity of VPN apps following the code introduction in March appears to have been short-lived.
asserted
boom → follow → March
The VPN apps that had rapidly entered the Top 25 downloads chart, according to Sensor Tower in March, have since slipped back out of the rankings.
uncertain
that → enter → rankings
The Aporia
