Published 3 months ago • loading... • Updated 3 months ago
Australia Forces Porn Sites to Block Under-18s From Monday
Aylo blocks Australian users and halts new sign-ups ahead of mandatory age verification rules enforcing stricter access controls on adult and explicit content.
On Friday, Aylo, the Canadian owner of Pornhub, restricted Australian visitors and stopped new account registrations ahead of industry codes taking effect on Monday.
The industry codes require services hosting adult or 18-plus content to verify ages using facial age estimation, digital wallets, and photo ID, mandating robust methods at login or access.
ESafety research found over 70 per cent of Australian children aged 10 to 17 have encountered harmful online content, while Aylo cited UK data on non-compliant site visits.
Non-Compliance carries penalties of up to $49.5 million per breach; eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the regulator will monitor adherence and take enforcement action, while Communications Minister Anika Wells said the codes push big tech to better protect Australian children.
The company pointed to its past regulatory troubles in the US, where the US Department of Justice found it profited from sex-trafficking proceeds in 2023 and the US Federal Trade Commission charged it last year.
The Australian internet regulator warned Friday that pornographic websites will have to block access to children under the age of 18 from Monday, under new and extensive restrictions aimed at protecting children.