Pornhub owner to shut online sites to new UK users, citing minors' protection

The owner of pornographic websites including Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube, said Tuesday it will block new users in Britain from February 2, citing the protection of minors.

Cyprus-based Aylo said updates to the UK's Online Safety Act requiring age verification "has diverted traffic to darker, unregulated corners of the internet, and has also jeopardized the privacy and personal data of UK citizens".

Aylo, which has carried out similar measures in France and the United States, added in a statement that "UK users who have verified their age will retain access through their existing accounts".