Overview

• Age verification measures activated on 25 July require document, biometric and payment checks that have led platforms to block or gate diverse material beyond pornography.
• Similarweb data indicates Pornhub’s UK traffic fell by nearly half since enforcement began, with XVideos and xHamster experiencing comparable declines.
• VPN providers report record user sign-ups as Cloudwards finds searches on bypassing age checks have surged by over 450,000%.
• Ofcom has opened probes into dozens of non-compliant porn sites and a High Court judge ruled Wikimedia must comply as a category one service.
• Privacy experts caution that centralizing IDs and selfies for verification could create high-value targets for hackers, amid repeal petitions and U.S. criticism over speech restrictions.