Pornhub has returned to Australia, after it went dark due to age verification laws. Source: bbc.co.uk.
What Happened
The world’s most popular porn site went dark in Australia due to age verification laws.
These laws require users to prove they are over 18 to access adult content, including pornography, R-rated video games, and sexually explicit AI chatbots.
Following the policy, Pornhub temporarily shut down access in the country.
Key Facts
- Pornhub has resumed access for eligible adult users in Australia.
- Access is only available to users with Apple devices that have passed age verification.
- Apple’s age-verification process uses government-issued IDs, driver’s licenses, or credit cards to confirm user age.
- The parent company, Aylo, stated that Apple’s default child safety features make devices inherently kid-safe.
- Users must confirm their age through Apple’s system to access Pornhub.
How It Works
Apple introduced new age checks in Australia, following a rollout in the UK.
When a user logs into an app or website, Apple checks their identity using a government-issued ID or credit card.
If the user is verified as over 18, the device is considered safe for adult content.
This means that, by default, all Apple devices are set to block access to adult content unless the user explicitly confirms they are an adult.
Why It Matters
Aylo’s return to Australia reflects a broader shift toward device-based age verification.
According to Aylo’s vice-president of brand and community Alex Kekesi, device-based checks are more effective and privacy-protecting than requiring users to submit personal data to multiple platforms.
Apple’s approach reduces the need for users to share sensitive information with websites or apps.
It also limits the usefulness of virtual private networks (VPNs), which are commonly used to trick a site into thinking a user is logging on from another country, giving the user access to the site.
Limitations and Open Questions
While the system improves privacy and access control, critics have raised concerns about data privacy and potential methods to trick age-verification technologies such as facial recognition, digital IDs and credit card details.
There is no public data on how many users have successfully bypassed the system using alternative methods.
Additionally, the policy does not apply to all devices or platforms outside Apple’s ecosystem.
What to Watch Next
Regulators will likely continue monitoring compliance with age verification laws.
Other platforms may follow Apple’s model, especially if similar privacy and safety benefits are demonstrated.
Future updates to the Australian online safety framework could include broader device-based verification standards.
Source: BBC News
Original article
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