Pornhub Parent Aylo Restores Access in Australia on iOS

Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, has reinstated access to its platform for Australian users on Apple iOS devices. This decision follows Apple's implementation of an age-verification process in Australia, which Aylo cites as an effective method for age assurance.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, by Aylo, headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Users in Australia can now access Pornhub if they are using Apple devices and have completed Apple’s Australian age-verification process.

Background to Australian Restrictions

Aylo initially restricted access to its free video-sharing platforms in Australia in March 2026. This action was a direct response to Australia’s new Designated Internet Services Code, which became effective on March 9, 2026. This code mandates that sites and platforms primarily providing online adult content must implement age-assurance measures before allowing user access.

At the time of the initial block, an Aylo spokesperson informed XBIZ that the company considered Australia’s approach to age verification ineffective for protecting minors. The spokesperson also stated that the approach was likely to create "harms relating to data privacy and exposure to illegal content on noncompliant platforms."

Australia’s Online Safety Act 2021 requires adult websites serving Australian visitors to verify every user is aged 18 or above before granting full access. The three verification methods offered under the law include a government-issued photo ID, a biometric facial age scan, or credit card details processed through a third party.

Aylo has previously responded to similar age-verification laws, including in most U.S. states and France, by blocking access to its sites. The company has cited these laws as impractical and unworkable, stating that they impose a burden of compliance. Aylo has also argued that such laws are ineffective because users can circumvent them with VPNs or access noncompliant websites.

Aylo's Stance on Device-Based Verification

Aylo VP Brand and Community Alex Kekesi issued a statement on Tuesday regarding the unblocking of Pornhub in Australia. Kekesi stated that Aylo has advocated for device-based age verification for years, viewing it as the most effective and privacy-protecting method to prevent minors from accessing age-inappropriate online content.

Kekesi noted that Apple’s recent Australian update established a benchmark by automatically enabling child safety features for users who have not verified their adult status. This, according to Kekesi, makes every phone or tablet kid-safe as a starting point. As a result, Aylo is now welcoming eligible age-confirmed Australian iOS users back to Pornhub.

This move in Australia mirrors Aylo’s actions in the United Kingdom. In February, Aylo began blocking access to its free sites in the U.K. unless users had established accounts, in response to what it called the Online Safety Act’s "flawed system."

Following Apple’s launch of iOS 26.4 in May, Aylo announced it would reopen access to its free video-sharing platforms for U.K. users on Apple devices who had confirmed their age through Apple’s U.K. age-verification process. At that time, Kekesi described Apple’s U.K.-wide device-based age assurance as "a huge step" and indicated that Aylo considered this solution "the path forward."

Regulatory Scrutiny and Future Outlook

The U.K. media regulator Ofcom has since initiated an investigation to determine if Aylo’s use of device-based age verification complies with the U.K.’s Online Safety Act. Ofcom had previously commended Apple’s age verification methods, calling their implementation "a real win for children and families." However, in its announcement of the Aylo investigation, Ofcom emphasized that it remains the service provider’s responsibility to ensure any age assurance process is highly effective, regardless of when an age check occurs.

It is currently unknown how Australia’s online safety regulator, eSafety, will react to Aylo’s recent announcement regarding the unblocking of Pornhub for iOS users.

Key Facts

• Pornhub parent company Aylo unblocked access for Australian users on Apple iOS devices on October 6, 2026.
• Access is granted to users who have confirmed their age through Apple’s Australian age-verification process.
• Aylo had restricted access to its platforms in Australia in March 2026 due to the country’s new Designated Internet Services Code requiring age-assurance measures.
• Aylo VP Brand and Community Alex Kekesi stated that Aylo advocates for device-based age verification as the most effective and privacy-protecting approach.
• The company’s decision in Australia follows a similar trajectory in the U.K., where access was restored for iOS users after Apple launched iOS 26.4.
• U.K. media regulator Ofcom is investigating Aylo’s device-based age verification for compliance with the U.K.’s Online Safety Act.