Pornhub, along with its affiliated sites Redtube and Youporn, has opted to block access in France as of Wednesday, following new government regulations that require explicit websites to verify that users are 18 years or older.

This decision was announced by Aylo, the parent company of these platforms, stating that instead of pornographic content, users will see a notice regarding the new regulations.

Under the new French legislation, which is part of a broader initiative aimed at protecting minors from inappropriate online content, sites have until June 7, 2025, to implement comprehensive age verification measures.

The French government has emphasized the importance of safeguarding children from exposure to adult content while asserting that it does not aim to vilify adult users.

Clara Chappaz, France's Deputy Minister for Digital Technology, defended the measures on Tuesday, highlighting the need for accountability among websites hosting explicit content.

Chappaz stated, "We’re not stigmatizing adults who want to consume this content, but we mustn’t do so at the expense of protecting our children." She also noted that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that platforms adequately protect minors.

The current method of age verification allows users to declare they are over 18 without actual verification.

In contrast, the new regulations require explicit sites to confirm users' ages through a credit card or government-issued ID. To ensure user privacy, the legislation mandates the use of an external verification service that employs a system of double anonymity.

This means that while the service provider will know the user's identity, the adult websites will only receive confirmation of the user's legal age without accessing any personal identification details.

Aylo expressed its support for the principle of age verification but criticized the government’s approach, arguing that age checks should be conducted on individual devices rather than on the websites themselves.

The company has labeled the new law as potentially infringing on user privacy and ineffective in its objectives.

In response to these concerns, Chappaz reaffirmed the privacy guarantees of the proposed verification system, stating, "It’s unacceptable to lie when you don’t want to respect the law." She further indicated that if Aylo prefers to exit the French market rather than comply, it is free to do so.

Statistics indicate that users in France represent Pornhub's second-largest audience globally, following the United States.

According to the French digital and audiovisual regulator Arcom, approximately 2.3 million minors access pornographic websites each month, constituting about 12% of the total porn user base in the country.

The issue of underage access to adult content has drawn scrutiny across Europe, with recent investigations launched by EU regulators into several porn sites for non-compliance with child protection regulations.