Pornhub, one of the world’s leading adult content websites, has announced it may withdraw from the French market in response to the country’s strict age verification regulations. The platform argues that the rules pose serious risks to user privacy, potentially exposing sensitive data to cyber threats and breaches.
Aylo, Pornhub’s parent company—which also owns other major adult platforms such as RedTube and YouPorn—has voiced concerns about its ability to meet France’s compliance standards by the June 7 deadline.
Beginning Wednesday, French visitors to the site will encounter a notice criticizing the government’s verification policy. The message aims to raise awareness about what the company describes as a “dangerous, privacy-threatening, and ultimately ineffective” approach, a spokesperson told AFP.
The French media regulator Arcom has required adult sites to adopt advanced age verification methods to block minors from accessing explicit material, following legislation passed in 2023. Failure to comply could result in fines or the sites being blocked in France.
The law promotes the use of third-party verification tools that can confirm a user’s age without harvesting personal data. However, Aylo maintains that current technological solutions either fail to adequately protect privacy or are unreliable. While the company affirms its support for age verification in principle, it insists that more secure, device-based methods are needed.
“Google, Apple, and Microsoft already offer the ability to confirm a user’s age directly through their operating systems or devices,” said Solomon Friedman, compliance VP at Ethical Capital Partners, the Canadian private equity firm that owns Aylo. “Yes, these companies are powerful, but that doesn’t excuse France’s approach.”
The French government stands by its decision, stressing the importance of shielding minors from harmful online content. Aurore Bergé, the minister responsible for gender equality and anti-discrimination efforts, accused Pornhub and its affiliates of refusing to cooperate with national regulations and stated that their exit would be “for the better.”
“This means less access to violent, degrading, and harmful content for minors in France. Goodbye,” Bergé posted on X on Tuesday. Digital Minister Clara Chappaz echoed this sentiment, stating, “Asking adult sites to confirm user age isn’t about targeting adults—it’s about safeguarding our children.”
President Emmanuel Macron recently reaffirmed his commitment to mandatory age verification not just for adult content platforms but also for teens registering on social media. He argued that digital platforms are contributing to emotional distress and mental health issues among the youth.
In a broader effort, France, along with Spain and Greece, is also pushing for mandatory age verification measures across major social networks like Meta’s Facebook and Elon Musk’s X. According to Bloomberg, the three countries believe that the absence of effective age-check systems undermines enforcement of age restrictions. They aim to use the EU’s substantial consumer base of 450 million people to pressure tech giants into adopting stronger verification technologies.
